Analysis of Cut-off Point of Stable MicrobubbleRating Test for Predicting Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Early detection of RDS is imperative in treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Shake test and stable microbubble rating (SMR) test have been commonly used for early detection of RDS. In this study, we analyzed the cut-off point of SMR test to identify whether current dianostic criteria (SMR 10/mm2) correlates with actual development of RDS. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of SMR test performed on neonates with birth weight less than 2, 500 gm or gestational age less than 37 weeks or had the symptoms of respiratory distress from 1990 to 2001. We evaluate the correlations of SMR counts and actual development of RDS and calculated the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy at each SMR count. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy was considerably high when microbubble count was between 7 and 11. SMR count 9, the mean of these numbers, was determined as the cut-off point with 81.4% diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity and specificity was 59.1% and 95.8% respectively. CONCLUSION: Current diagnostic criteria of SMR test would be effective in expecting development of RDS.