title: Total surface-active phospholipid/sphingomyelin ratio as an index of fetal lung maturity.
abstract: As an index of fetal lung maturity, the ratio of total surface-active phospholipid (phosphatidylethanolamine + phosphatidylinositol + phosphatidyglycerol + lecithin) to sphingomyelin performs as well as or better than any other indicator that we tested, showing 92% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of the other methods were: (a) lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio, 92% and 95%; (b) alkaline phosphatase/glutamyltransferase ratio, 100% and 49%; (c) microviscosity, 75% and 97%; and (d) adsorbance at 650 nm, 50% and 73%. The procedure requires 2 h or less and its simplicity allows it to be offered on a 24 h/day basis without necessitating special training.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000032:analysis*; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000032:analysis*; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000032:analysis*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D010743:Phospholipids