title: The effect of polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios on fetal lung maturity indexes.
abstract: The influence of amniotic fluid (AF) volume on common fetal lung maturity (FLM) indices was evaluated. Cases diagnosed with altered AF volume as estimated by ultrasound (n = 71; polyhydramnios = 33, oligohydramnios = 38) were matched to controls by: gestational age (GA) at amniocentesis, GA at delivery, neonatal weight, sex, and pregnancy complication. FLM was assessed on AF specimens obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis by planimetric and stechiometric L/S, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and lamellar bodies counts (LB). In cases with polyhydramnios, L/S ratios (planimetric and stechiometric) were statistically lower in cases with respect to controls (2.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.0, p = 0.007, and 4.8 +/- 2.4 vs. 5.9 +/- 2.7, p < 0.04; respectively). Absence of PG was more frequent in (70.8% vs. 50%, p = 0.02). LB counts were lower in cases than in controls (15.5 +/- 12.1 x 10(3)/microL vs. 21.9 +/- 14.3 x 10(3)/microL, p < 0.05). In cases with oligohydramnios, no difference was found for planimetric and stechiometric L/S in comparison to controls (2.6 +/- 1.2 vs. 2.6 +/- 1.0, N.S. and 4.9 +/- 2.1 vs. 4.6 +/- 1.8, N.S.; respectively), absence of PG (62.5% vs. 50%, N.S.), and LB counts (27.2 x 10(3)/microL +/- 12.8 x 10(3)/microL vs. 28.6 x 10(3)/microL +/- 24.1 x 10(3)/microL, N.S.). In conclusion, oligohydramnios was not associated with altered FLM indices; in cases with polyhydramnios all FLM indices were significantly lower.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Piazze
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maranghi
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Cosmi
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Anceschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000150:complications*; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values