The association between respiratory distress and nonpulmonary morbidity at 34 to 36 weeks' gestation

Maternal-Neonatal Serum Albumin Level and Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Late-Preterm Infants

Background: To determine the correlation between maternal-neonatal serum albumin level and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in late-preterm infants. Methods: This case-control study included 112 late-preterm newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital between January 2018 and July 2019. Those infants were divided into the RDS group (n = 56) and the non-RDS group (n = 56). Levels of maternal-neonatal serum albumin, pregnancy complications, and baseline information of the infants were compared between the two groups. Results: 1. There was no correlation between maternal and neonatal serum albumin measures. The maternal albumin level in the RDS group was lower than that in the control group (33.38 ± 3.31 vs. 33.60 ± 3.31, P > 0.05), but the difference was not statistically significant. The neonatal albumin level in the RDS group was significantly lower than that in the control group (32.70 ± 2.48 vs. 35.66 ± 3.27, P < 0.05). To predict RDS in late-preterm infants, using the albumin cutoff level of 34 g/L provides a sensitivity of 83.9% with a specificity of 62.5%. 2. Gestational age, primipara, placenta previa, antenatal corticosteroid therapy, delivery mode, and neonatal serum albumin level were associated with RDS in the late-preterm infant. 3. After adjustment for gestational age, logistic regression analysis showed that neonatal serum albumin level, placenta previa, and delivery mode were independent risk factors for RDS in late-preterm infants. However, albumin level did not related to the severity of RDS. Conclusion: The decrease in serum albumin within the first day after birth was closely related to the occurrence of RDS in late-preterm infants.

Predicting lung maturity in preterm rupture of membranes via lamellar bodies count from a vaginal pool: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Amniocentesis is the accepted mode of attaining amniotic fluid to perform tests for fetal lung maturity. The purpose of this study was to validate a non-invasive fetal lung maturity test by counting lamellar bodies from a vaginal pool among women with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

METHODS

In a prospective study, amniotic fluid specimens were collected from a vaginal pool from women after preterm premature rupture of membranes with gestational age between 27 and 36 completed weeks. Receiver operating characteristics curve was estimated to assess the threshold of lamellar bodies' count that may predict fetal lung maturity.

RESULTS

Seventy-five specimens were collected of which 17 were between 32 to 34 weeks. A lamellar bodies' count of 28,000 or more predicted mature fetus 100% of the time (specificity) among all women and also among women between 32 to 34 weeks. The sensitivity was 72% among all and 92% when gestational age was between 32 to 34 weeks. A count of 8,000 or less, predicted respiratory distress syndrome with a sensitivity of 98% among the whole group.

CONCLUSION

Counting of lamellar bodies in amniotic fluid from a vaginal pool may be used to predict fetal lung maturity.

Caesarean before labour between 34 and 37 weeks: What are the risk factors of severe neonatal respiratory distress?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency of severe neonatal respiratory distress and identify its risk factors in caesarean deliveries before labour between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study of children born by caesarean delivery before labour between 34 and 37 weeks, between 1999 and 2003 in a level 3 maternity unit. The frequencies of severe and mild neonatal respiratory distress were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses studied the factors potentially associated with severe respiratory distress: gestational age, type of pregnancy (singleton or multiple), condition of membranes, maternal diabetes, indication for caesarean, antenatal corticosteroid therapy, intrauterine growth retardation, infant's sex and birth weight.

RESULTS

The 189 study subjects included 107 singletons and 82 twins: 28% required intensive care for severe respiratory distress and 30.2% developed mild respiratory distress. Gestational age was a significant risk factor (p = 0.01), especially before 36 weeks (adjusted OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.4). The multivariate analysis indicated that singleton pregnancies (adjusted OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5-6.7) and caesareans for fetal indications (adjusted OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.2-5.7) are also risk factors and that premature rupture of the membranes is a "protective" factor against respiratory complications (adjusted OR = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.8).

CONCLUSION

More than a quarter of the infants delivered by caesarean before labour between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation in our level 3 maternity unit had severe respiratory distress. Although our population may not be typical of the general population, this finding and the risk factors associated with it should be taken into account in determining the best time and place for delivery of each patient.