Lamellar body count in amniotic fluid as a rapid screening test for fetal lung maturity.
We conducted a 2-year prospective clinical outcome study to evaluate the usefulness of amniotic fluid lamellar body count (LBC) as a screening test for fetal lung maturity. During the interval under study, outcomes of 170 neonates were used to evaluate the test; 14 neonates had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Both LBC and lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S ratio) test results were available in 129 cases. All the cases of RDS had LBC of 50,000/microliter or less and L/S ratio of 2.8 or less; 72.7% of cases with no RDS had LBC greater than 50,000/microliter, and 80.4% of normal cases had L/S ratio higher than 2.8. LBC test results showed good correlation with L/S ratio test results between 26 weeks and 33 weeks of gestation (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001). With the cutoff value of 50,000/microliter for LBC, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 80%, respectively. Determining LBC by cell counter is justified as a useful rapid initial screening test for the assessment of fetal lung maturity.
Lee
I S
IS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Y K
YK
Kim
A
A
Min
W K
WK
Kim
K S
KS
Mok
J E
JE
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D008403:Mass Screening; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity