title: Indirect prediction of fetal lung maturity. Value of ultrasonographic colonic and placental grading.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate fetal morphometrics with studies of fetal lung maturity.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred six patients undergoing amniocentesis for fetal lung maturity studies were examined prospectively. Eighty-four patients were normal (79%), and 22 were diabetic (21%). Fetal morphometrics were obtained prior to amniocentesis. The fetal colon and placenta were graded. Discriminant analysis was used to identify variables that were predictive of a mature lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and the presence of phosphatidylglycerol (PG). All patients delivered within 48 hours of amniocentesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the normal group, 28 (33%) fetuses had a grade 3 colon, which was 68% sensitive and 98% specific for a mature amniocentesis. A grade 3 colon was the single best predictor of a mature amniocentesis (P < .001). Twenty-five (29%) fetuses had a grade 3 placenta, which was 64% sensitive and 96% specific for a mature amniocentesis (P < .005). Diabetes did not influence colonic grading since a grade 3 colon was present in seven (32%) patients (47% sensitivity and 100% specificity for PG) (P < .02). Interexaminer and intraexaminer variability for the study was excellent, kappa = 1.0 (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colonic and placental stage 3 grading are reliable and reproducible ultrasonographic scales that can help predict the findings of fetal lung maturity studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. rlm6@po.cwru.edu
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Loret de Mola
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Judge
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Entsminger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DeViney
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Muise
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Duchon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*