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The accuracy of lamellar body count and lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in the prediction of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: a meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Wijnberger L.D.E.,
Huisjes A.J.M.,
Voorbij H.A.M.,
Franx A.,
Bruinse H.W.,
Mol B.W.J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2001.00142.x
Subject(s) - lecithin , respiratory distress , lamellar granule , receiver operating characteristic , medicine , amniotic fluid , lung , chemistry , anesthesia , fetus , biology , chromatography , pregnancy , genetics
Objective To compare the performance of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and the lamellar body count in the prediction of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Design Meta‐analysis. Sample Six studies reporting on the performance of both the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and the lamellar body count published between January 1966 and August 1999. Methods We performed a computerised MEDLINE search to identify articles published on the subject. For the six selected studies, prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome and sensitivity and specificity of the tests in the prediction of respiratory distress syndrome were calculated, and overall performance was assessed by constructing summary receiver–operating characteristic curves. Results The constructed summary receiver–operating characteristic curves showed the lamellar body count to perform slightly better than the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in the prediction of respiratory distress syndrome ( P = 0.13 ). Conclusions Since the lamellar body count can be performed quickly and since it is less expensive than the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio, we recommend the former as the test of first choice in the assessment of fetal lung maturity.