[Various amniotic studies in the assessment of fetal pulmonary maturity]

The need for knowledge concerning foetal pulmonary maturity has led biochemists to develop a number of techniques based upon knowledge of amniotic phospholipids. Study of these phospholipids of foetal pulmonary origin is possible using biochemical and physical methods. The former include the L/S (Lecithin/sphingomyelins) ratio, as well as the measurement of total lecithins, or the palmitic acid/stearic acid ratio (P/S). Physical methods are based upon surface tension (Clements test) or fluidity (measurement of microviscosity by polarization of fluorescence) properties of phospholipids. Combination of several reproducible, sensitive and reliable tests (E/S ratio, microviscosity, Clements test) provides adequate information concerning foetal pulmonary maturity.