title: Fetal pulmonary maturity and antenatal diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: The clinical entity of hyaline membrane disease affords one the opportunity to study a disease from the cellular, biochemical, anatomical, and clinical standpoint, and to be able to formulate a theory on its pathogenesis. Recent refinements in methodology give the clinician a valuable tool in diagnosing and hopefully preventing hyaline membrane disease. In the setting where early delivery is unavoidable, the potential for pharmacologic intervention exists, and hopefully, long-term studies will prove the benefit of steroid therapy.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants