Abstract
The present study evaluated fetal thalamic echogenicity by ultrasound as a possible marker of fetal lung maturity in comparison with other ultrasound makers. A prospective longitudinal study performed in Al-Elwiya Maternity Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq during the period from April 2010 to March 2011. One hundred and forty two pregnant women (36 to 42 weeks of gestation) who were admitted for elective cesarean section and referred for an obstetric ultrasound scan at the same day of their elective cesarean section were included. Scanning with linear ultrasound with convex transducer frequency of 3.5 MHz was utilized to measure the biparietal diameter and the state of echogenicity was recorded as echogenic or echolucent, in addition to amniotic fluid vernix and the placental changes. The presence of echogenic thalamus as a sign of fetal lung maturity had a specificity of 86.53% which is higher than the three other signs of lung maturity; the positive predictive value was (89.6%) which is also higher than the three other signs, but the sensitivity was 63.33% and negative predictive value was 57.69% which is lower than the presence of vernix in the amniotic fluid, 86.66 and 67.56 respectively. In conclusion, evaluation of echogenic thalamus is beneficial, and can be considered as a new marker of fetal lung maturity; however, further studies are required to strengthen such idea.
Highlights
Fetal lung immaturity is a major problem in the management of elective birth with respect to predicting the development of infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) in the neonate after birth
The present study evaluated fetal thalamic echogenicity by ultrasound as a possible marker of fetal lung maturity in comparison with other ultrasound makers
The presence of echogenic thalamus as a sign of fetal lung maturity had a specificity of 86.53% which is higher than the three other signs of lung maturity; the positive predictive value was (89.6%) which is higher than the three other signs, but the sensitivity was 63.33% and negative predictive value was 57.69% which is lower than the presence of vernix in the amniotic fluid, 86.66 and 67.56 respectively
Summary
Fetal lung immaturity is a major problem in the management of elective birth with respect to predicting the development of infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) in the neonate after birth. Lamellar body count was evaluated and found to be an easy, rapid and cost-effective as a predictive measure fetal lung maturity [2]. Attempts have been made to correlate the ultrasonic appearances of the placenta with fetal lung maturity. In all of these studies, the sensitivity and positive predictive value were poor, the non-invasive nature of this approach and rapidity of evaluation were attractive [13]. In an attempt to establish further non-invasive method for evaluation of fetal lung maturity, the present study was designed to evaluate the validity of measuring fetal thalamic echogenicity by ultrasound as a marker of fetal lung maturity
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