Amniotic fluid lamellar body counts for the determination of fetal lung maturity: an update
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Juan J. Piazze
Abstract
Aim: To reassess the cut-off value for lamellar body counts (LBs) for fetal lung maturity (FLM) over a 10-year study period.
Patients and methods: 178 pregnancies were selected under strict inclusion criteria and delivered within 48 h from amniocentesis. FLM was determined by amniotic fluid LBs in centrifuged samples (300×g for 10 min) in a commercially available Coulter Counter. Cases beyond 37 weeks were excluded.
Results: Mean gestational age was 33.5±3.0 weeks at amniocentesis and 33.7±3.0 weeks at birth. After reassessing the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity for all cases using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) procedure, an FLM cut-off value of ≤22,000/μL was obtained. Diagnostic accuracy (and confidence interval, CI) was: sensitivity, 73% (60.0–83.6%); specificity, 81.7% (CI 73.6–88.1%); positive predictive value, 66.2%; and negative predictive value, 86.0%.
Conclusion: No significant change in FLM cut-off for LBs was found when comparing the value from this study and the results of our earlier report presented in 1996 (≤22,000 vs. ≤20,000/μL), although the new value may be more accurate, since it is based on neonatal outcome with the exclusion of cases in which the diagnosis of FLM is seldom warranted, i.e., >37 weeks' gestational age.
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©2005 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
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Articles in the same Issue
- Declining fertility in the developed world and high maternal mortality in developing countries – how do we respond?
- Maternal obesity and complications during pregnancy
- Cesarean section upon request: is it appropriate for everybody?
- Reply to: Cesarean section upon request: is it appropriate for everybody?
- Characteristics of mothers who delivered the heaviest, average-weight, and lightest triplet sets
- Gestational age-specific distribution of twin birth weight discordance
- The comparison of amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide levels in preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancy
- Optimal timing for postprandial glucose measurement in pregnant women with diabetes and a non-diabetic pregnant population evaluated by the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS®)
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