title: [Quantitative analysis of lamellar bodies in amniotic fluid as fetal pulmonary maturity indicator].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although lamellar bodies have been the center of interest over the last years, the published results of fetal pulmonary maturity determination according to their concentration in amniotic fluid are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the significance of lamellar bodies, as well as the ratio lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) in amniotic fluid for the assessment of fetal pulmonary maturity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective 2-year study included 102 female examinees, ranging from 17 to 44 years of age, in whom lamellar bodies concentrations in amniotic fluid were determined to check the efficacy of the applied therapy for obtaining arteficial fetal pulmonary maturity. The shake test was applied as a comparative test for determining a quantitative L/S ratio. To determine a fetus maturity and development stage we followed up biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femure length, ponderal index at birth and body mass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 102 amniocenteses within a period from 26th to 40th gestation week only 70 results were considered due to 32 unknown neonatal outcomes. Biparietal diameter was 224-362 mm, femur length 56 - 78 mm, ponderal index 1.22-2.84, fetus body mass 1300-4 350 g. There was found a significant relation between gestation age and lamellar bodies concentration (R = 0.396398, p < 0.01), as well as between gestation age and the ratio L/S (R = 0.691297, p < 0.01). Also, there was a significant correlation of lamellar bodies concentration to the ratio L/S determined (R = 0.493609, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of lamellar bodies concentration values is a reliable method to confirm fetal pulmonary maturity.
authors.affiliation: Klinicki centar Srbije, Institut za ginekologiju i akuserstvo, Beograd, Srbija. vesnaljubic@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ljubić
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Radunović
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefanović
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Opalić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D054709:Lecithins / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054709:Lecithins; D013109:Sphingomyelins