VALIDATION OF A SIMPLE RAPID HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR AMNIOTIC-FLUID LECITHIN SPHINGOMYELIN RATIOS

A simple, rapid and sensitive HPLC [high performance liquid chromatography] method for the determination of L/S [lecithin/sphingomyelin] ratios in amniotic fluids was described. The method is based on isocratic separation in the normal phase with UV detection. The procedure has good precision, and was validated clinically and by comparison with a routine TLC method. Although L/S ratios differed from those obtained by TLC, the clinical correlation between these metnods was good. In single and serial samples from 39 mothers (42 babies) with HPLC method predicted respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in all 9 babies with L/S ratio < 7. No babies with ratios > 7 developed RDS. This method has potential clinical usefulness for the assessment of fetal lung maturity.