title: Ultrasound screening for free-floating particles and fetal lung maturity.
abstract: Ultrasound examination to measure the fetal biparietal diameter (BPD) and examine amniotic fluid for the presence or absence of free-floating particles was performed in 213 patients undergoing amniocenteses for maturity testing at term. A modified lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio (L/S) was performed on all samples. A BPD greater than or equal to 92 mm predicted 37 of 111 (33%) mature L/S ratios of nondiabetic pregnancies. The presence of free-floating particles predicted 48 of 138 (35%) mature L/S ratios of nondiabetics. Combined, a BPD greater than or equal to 92 mm and/or the presence of free-floating particles predicted 57 of 110 (52%) mature L/S ratios of nondiabetics. It is concluded that a BPD greater than or equal to 92 mm and the presence of free-floating particles are independent yet complimentary predictors of fetal lung maturity.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D010316:Particle Size; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins