Prediction of respiratory distress syndrome by the novel dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine test

Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Mar;87(3):429-33. doi: 10.1016/0029-7844(95)00462-9.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the accuracy of a new test that measures the concentration in amniotic fluid (AF) of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in predicting respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Methods: The neonatal respiratory status of 176 newborns delivered within 72 hours of sampling was correlated with the concentration of DPPC, fluorescence polarization (TDx-FLM), lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio (L/S), and phosphatidyl-glycerol (Amniostat-FLM) in AF.

Results: Thirty infants developed RDS (17%), all correctly predicted with DPPC values less than 12 micrograms/mL (sensitivity 100%). Only six of the 146 cases with no RDS had DPPC values less than 12 micrograms/mL (specificity 96%). The overall accuracy of the DPPC test was 98% compared with 70% for TDx-FLM, 71% for the L/S, and 67% for Amniostat-FLM. Receiver operating characteristic analysis area was 0.98 +/- 0.01, indicating that the DPPC test is superior to both the TDx-FLM and L/S tests.

Conclusion: The DPPC test is an accurate predictor of RDS and fetal lung maturity.

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / analysis*
  • Amniotic Fluid / chemistry*
  • Delivery, Obstetric
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Phosphatidylcholines / analysis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, High-Risk
  • Prenatal Diagnosis
  • ROC Curve
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / diagnosis*
  • Sphingomyelins / analysis

Substances

  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Sphingomyelins
  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine