title: Respiratory distress syndrome and the value of amniotic fluid phospholipids in predicting such complications before birth.
abstract: The amniotic fluid study of 80 samples from 40 patients, obtained by amniocentesis between 28 and 40 weeks of pregnancy, was carried out. It was noted that L/S (Lecithin/Sphingomyelin) ratio was significantly different at 36-38 weeks of pregnancy when compared with values in pregnancies of less than 36 weeks gestation (P less than 0001). No cases of RDS occurred when the L/S ratio was mature 4 or more. A brief review of recent developments in etiology of RDS are also presented.
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins