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Amniotic fluid phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. I. Normal pregnancies
Insights
Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) levels in amniotic fluid are lower in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). This finding highlights PG
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are phospholipids found in amniotic fluid during late pregnancy.
- These phospholipids are associated with the fetal lung surfactant system.
- Previous studies have indicated a link between these phospholipids and fetal lung maturity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concentrations of lecithin (L), PI, PG, and sphingomyelin (S) in amniotic fluid during normal pregnancies.
- To determine the relationship between these phospholipid concentrations and fetal lung surfactant maturation.
- To assess the correlation between amniotic fluid phospholipid levels and the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of lecithin (L), PI, PG, and sphingomyelin (S) concentrations in 207 amniotic fluid samples from 165 normal pregnancies.
- Analysis of phospholipid concentration changes throughout gestation.
- Comparison of PG and PI concentrations in premature infants with and without RDS.
Main Results:
- Augmentation of PI paralleled that of lecithin, with PI/S ratios peaking around 30 weeks gestation.
- PG augmentation occurred approximately two weeks after PI augmentation.
- Significantly lower PG concentrations were observed in premature infants with RDS compared to those without (p < 0.01).
- No significant correlation was found between PI concentrations and RDS.
- Low lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios were prevalent in infants affected by RDS.
Conclusions:
- Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) concentration in amniotic fluid is a potential indicator for predicting respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants.
- The maturation pattern of PG differs from that of PI and lecithin.
- Monitoring amniotic fluid PG levels may aid in assessing fetal lung maturity and the risk of RDS.
Abstract:
Phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) appear normally in the amniotic fluid during the last weeks of pregnancy. The present study indicated as have previous studies (5, 6, 8, 10) that these phospholipids are linked to the surfactant system in the fetal lung. The concentrations of lecithin (L), PI, PG and sphingomyelin (S) were measured in 207 samples from 165 normal pregnancies. The augmentation in PI was found to parallel that in lecithin, and the PI/S ratios reached maximum values at about 30 weeks of gestation. The augmentation in PG appeared about two weeks later. Eleven premature infants who contracted respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) had significantly lower PG concentrations than 15 premature infants with no RDS (p less than 0.01). No correlation to the PI concentrations could be observed. All but one of the 11 affected infants had low L/S ratios.