title: Evaluation of the FELMA microviscosimeter in predicting fetal lung maturity.
abstract: A new, rapid technique for determining fetal lung maturity, the FELMA, was tested against the standard lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio in predicting hyaline membrane disease (HMD). The FELMA was tested on 236 samples, 154 of which were compared with the L/S ratio; 102 neonates were delivered within 48 hours. There was a significant correlation between methods ( r = 0.47). No neonate with a mature FELMA score developed HMD. Of 5 neonates with HMD, 2 had mature L/S ratio in predicting lung immaturity, providing a rapid result without the necessity of thin-layer chromatography.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins