Association between lamellar body count and respiratory distress in neonates.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of fetal lung maturity by a simple and rapid test has a pivotal role in obstetric managements. Lack of modern laboratory techniques in our country made us investigate whether lamellar body count (LBC) can be applied efficiently in the evaluation of fetal lung maturity.


METHODS
Lamellar body count was assessed in 104 unspun amniotic fluid samples taken from pregnant women admitted at Akbar Abadi Hospital, Tehran, Iran between May 2003 and November 2003 whose fetuses were at risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Cut-off points for LBC were determined to evaluate the risk of RDS. Standard clinical and radiographic criteria were used to diagnose RDS.


RESULTS
An LBC of less than 10,000 was 99.1% specific for lung immaturity (positive predictive value = 99.1%, negative predictive value = 83.5%). The LBCs of greater than 45,000 eliminates RDS (negative predictive value = 98.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Lamellar body count is an easy, rapid and cost-effective test to assess fetal lung maturity in high-risk fetuses. Using the cut-off points of 10,000 and 45,000, LBC can serve as the first screening test of fetal lung maturity.
Bahasadri
Shohreh
S
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ocrt@sina.tums.ac.ir
Changizi
Nasrin
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants