Predicting neonatal respiratory morbidity by lamellar body count and gestational age

Abstract

GA specific predicted risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity using LBC provides a statistical model, which can aid clinicians in individually counseling patients regarding the absolute risk of their neonate developing respiratory morbidity.

Assessment of Fetal Lung Maturity by Lamellar Body Count (LBC) in Comparison to the Fluorescence Polarization TDx FLM-II and L/S Ratio Methods

“…However, the TDx FLM-II was recently discontinued necessitating a need for a replacement method with at least a similar level of accuracy and automation. One option available was the lamellar body count, an assay that measures a stored form of surfactant in the amniotic fluid using a standard hematology analyser [10][11][12][13][14].…”

Prematurity

“…Beamon et al [9] offer a technologically simplified approach to fetal lung maturity testing based on lamellar body counts (LBCs) in uncentrifuged amniotic fluid. Given that lamellar body morphology approximates those of platelets, LBCs can be determined using platelet channels of hematology instruments.…”

“…Conversely, there were no differences in outcomes between tracheal aspiration and surfactant alone. Interestingly, a subset of study subjects was resistant to respiratory failure after MAS induction; one wonders if Beamon's approach [9] would have identified a relatively higher lamellar body count in this subset (i.e. higher rate of underlying surfactant production and lung maturity).…”