The bubble test as a measure of amniotic fluid surfactant and as a predictor of hyaline membrane disease
- PMID: 581622
The bubble test as a measure of amniotic fluid surfactant and as a predictor of hyaline membrane disease
Abstract
The bubble test was compared with the lecithin-sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and total phospholipids (TPL) test as a measure of fetal lung surfactant in the amniotic fluid. Of 161 patients, all but 1 with a bubble score of 2 + or more also had mature L/S ratios and TPL values, whereas those with a bubble score of 0 - 1 + had L/S ratios and TPL values ranging from immature to mature. A total of 161 patients who delivered within 72 hours of TPL test and bubble test were assessed for the presence of hyaline membrane disease (HMD). No cases of HMD were associated with a bubble score of 2+ or more. However, the fetuses of 10 of 66 patients with a bubble score of 0 or 1 + developed HMD.