The influence of pre-eclampsia on fetal lung maturity

Abstract

ObjectiveTo use amniotic fluid (AF) lamellar body count (LBC) to assess the influence of pre-eclampsia and associated pathologic conditions on fetal lung maturity (FLM). MethodsA prospective study was conducted to analyze 378 AF samples containing 5mL of AF from 306 singleton pregnancies at 26–39weeks. Stratified by gestational age groups, pregnancies were categorized as follows: pre-eclampsia (n=25); intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (n=74); pre-eclampsia and IUGR (n=63); and control (n=144). Amniotic fluid LBC in each group was estimated and medians were compared for defined gestational age periods. Statistical analyses were performed via non-parametric tests. ResultsBetween 31 and 33weeks, significantly lower median LBCs were found in the pre-eclampsia group than in the IUGR group (P=0.022) and in pregnancies with both entities (P=0.031). Between 34 and 36weeks, there were significantly lower median LBCs in the pre-eclampsia and the pre-eclampsia/IUGR groups than in the IUGR group (P=0.026 and P=0.004, respectively), as well as in the pre-eclampsia/IUGR group compared with the control group (P=0.04). ConclusionSignificantly lower LBCs in pre-eclamptic pregnancies between 31 and 36weeks of gestation indicate delayed FLM associated with pre-eclampsia.