[Modified method of determining phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid to assess fetal maturity]

In this study the amniotic fluid of 111 cases were analyzed to assess fetal maturity by a modified method of determining phosphatidylglycerol. The L/S ratio was also determined in the amniotic fluid by thin layer chromatography at the same time. This method was found especially valuable where the L/S ratio was not less than 2.0 and the newborn infant did not have RDS. Here the fetal maturation was characterized by an early appearance of PG. Clinical evaluation showed that the rate of accuracy to assess fetal maturity of PG was 97.3%, significantly higher when compared with the 86.5% by L/S ratio (P less than 0.01). The false negative rate for PG was 5%. PG analysis in amniotic fluid as markers of surfactant seems to be of value as an additional index of prenatal evaluation of lung maturity. The modified method of PG assessment in amniotic fluid is a better method for estimating fetal maturity.