Fetal lung maturation in twin gestation.
Clear amnionic fluid was collected at cesarean section and the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio was used to evaluate fetal lung maturation in 42 twin gestations. The L/S ratios of twin pairs were usually similar in both numerical value and predictive accuracy except when the greater L/S ratio from one member of a pair indicated borderline lung maturity. Twin fetal lung maturation was found to be independent of sex, zygosity, and birth weight discordance. Comparison of mean L/S ratios in twins to those of uncomplicated singleton pregnancies revealed that fetal lung maturation occurred several weeks earlier in twins.
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D001724:Birth Weight; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000235:genetics; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012737:Sex Factors; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis; D014427:Twins
D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins