Lactate to creatinine ratio in amniotic fluid: a pilot study.

Measurement of amniotic fluid (AF) lactate concentration in complicated pregnancies may provide information on the extent of fetal acidemia. However, normalisation for AF volume may be necessary by calculating the lactate:creatinine (L:C) ratio. We measured these AF parameters and compared them to arterial cord blood lactate in 28 term and 10 preterm pregnancies.

Chance of aneurysm in patients suspected of SAH who have a 'negative' CT scan but a 'positive' lumbar puncture.

In patients with sudden severe headache and a negative computed tomography (CT) scan, a lumbar puncture (LP) is performed to rule in or out a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), but this procedure is under debate. In a hospital-based series of 30 patients with sudden headache, a negative CT scan but a positive LP (defined as detection of bilirubin >0.05 at wavelength 458 nm), we studied the chance of harbouring an aneurysm and the clinical outcome.

Comparison of vaginal and transabdominal collection of amniotic fluid for fetal lung maturity tests.

Backgrounds: The lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and lamellar body count (LBC) are two tests that can be used to estimate the probability of the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Our objective was to compare the prognostic capacity of the L/S ratio and the LBC in the prediction of RDS from amniotic fluid that was obtained either transabdominally or vaginally.

Methods: Consecutive women undergoing amniotic fluid sampling for determination of fetal lung maturity were included.

Effect of cytochrome P450 2D6 genotype on maternal paroxetine plasma concentrations during pregnancy.

Background And Objective: Increasing numbers of women in childbearing years are treated with antidepressants. Concerns regarding fetal exposure to medication has led to large studies on drug effects on birth outcome and on the risk of congenital anomalies. The risk of adverse effects due to paroxetine use during pregnancy has been associated with the extent of exposure.

Prediction of fetal lung immaturity using gestational age, patient characteristics and fetal lung maturity tests: a probabilistic approach.

Objectives: The lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and the lamellar body count (LBC) can be used to predict respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study among consecutive women who underwent amniotic fluid sampling for the assessment of fetal lung maturity. Logistic regression was used to construct models for the prediction of RDS in three gestational age categories, with models based on clinical characteristics only, clinical characteristics and the LBC, and on clinical characteristics and L/S ratio.