Effect of antenatal glucocorticoid administered in a single dose on the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

Authors administered glucocorticoid in the cases of 116 pregnant women admitted with premature delivery beginning between 28--36 weeks of gestation to prevent respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Prednisolone-sodium succinate (Di-Adreson F. Organon) was given intramuscularly in a single dose of 100 mg. 314 infants born before introduction of the corticosteroid prevention on the 28--36 weeks of gestation whose mothers had not been given corticosteroid served as a control group. The frequency of RDS on the treated group was 8,62% while 101 of 314 infants on the control group showed RDS (32,16%). Number of infants of hyaline membrane disease was 3 and 40, respectively. A close correlation could be observed between the interval lasting from therapy to delivery and RDS incidence. In infants born within 24 hours after administration of Di-Adreson F. aquosum injection RDS developed in 58,33% while in those born within 24--48 hours RDS was diagnosed only on 3 cases (8,57%). No RDS was found in babies born after 2 days following the therapy. There were no significant differences between treated and control groups in Apgar scores and the mean weights of infants. These findings seem to suggest that 100 mg of prednisolonesodium succinate administered in a single dose significantly reduces the incidence of RDS in premature infants.

Amniotic fluid shake test versus lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio in the antenatal prediction of respiratory distress syndrome.

Surfactant content of 211 amniotic fluid samples raken between 28 and 42 weeks' gestations was determined by the shake test. Parallel with this also the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio was measured in 99 cases. When the test was positive no respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) occurred, while 25 RDS (53.34%) developed in 46 newborns with negative test and 8 RDS (15.38%) in 52 newborns with intermediate test. RDS was observed in all cases when the L/S ratio was below 1.5. At L/S ratios between 1.5 and 2.0, RDS appeared in 50% of the negative tests and 20% of the intermediate tests. However, when the L/S ratio was over 2.0 no RDS occured even in the case of negative tests. For the clinical praxis the positive test gives an exact information; no RDS is to be expected in such cases. In the case of a negative test, however, the authors think is necessary also to determine the L/S ratio.

Quantitative Immunological study of pregnancy-associated alpha2-globulin antigen.

Pregnancy-associated alpha2-globulin antigen, a protein whigh is practically absent from the serum of nonpregnant individuals or could be found in the quantity of only a few milligram percent, gradually accumulates during pregnancy. A peak value of 96 +/- 44 mg% is reached by the 31st week of gestation. In the last 2 months of pregnancy a decrease was observed to 65 +/- 30 mg% before delivery. Significantly lower levels of this protein could be found in prolonged pregnancy and in case of abortions associated with placenta destruction. Elevated amounts of this characteristical pregnancy protein could be found in 63% of 100 tumor patients.

Quantitative serum levels of pregnancy associated alpha2-globulin in patients with benign and malignant tumours.

Pregnancy associated alpha2-globulin estimations were made in the serum of 100 tumour-cases. This characteristically pregnancy protein could be found in 63 p.c. of the tumour cases. The number of positive sera was higher, than in normal controls. The serum level of pregnancy associated alpha 2-globulin was between 1 and 10 mg p.c. in 34 cases, between 11 and 20 mg p.c. in 19 cases and value above 20 mg p.c. could only be found in 10 patients. This alpha2-globulin positivity could be seen more frequently in female than in male patients. Role and significance of alpha2-globulin is discussed.