Amniotic Fluid Lamellar Body Count: A Predictor of Respiratory Distress in Newborns

Assessment of fetal lung maturity by a simple and rapid test has a pivotal role in obstetric managements. Considering lack of modern laboratory techniques in Iran This study was designed to investigate lamellar body count as an efficient method in evaluation of fetal lung maturity. Lamellar body count was assessed in 104 unspun amniotic fluid samples taken from pregnant women who referred to Akbarabadi hospital in year 2004 whose fetuses were at risk for respiratory distress syndrome. Sysmex K.800 was used to count lamellar bodies. Cut-off points for Lamellar body count were determined to evaluate the risk of respiratory distress syndrome. Standard clinical and radiographic criteria were used to diagnose respiratory distress syndrome. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated using SPSS11. Lamellar body count of less than 10,000 was 99.1% specific for lung immaturity (positive predictive value = 99.1%, negative predictive value = 83.5%). Lamellar body count of greater than 45,000 eliminated respiratory distress syndrome (negative predictive value = 98.9%). Lamellar body count is an easy, rapid and cost-effective test to assess fetal lung maturity in high-risk fetuses. Using the cut-off points of 10,000 and 45,000, lamellar body count can serve as the first screening test of fetal lung maturity.