Effects of hydrocortisone on lecithin-sphingomyelin ratio.

An intravenous infusion of hydrocortisone succinate was given in four divided doses during a 24 hour period to 17 high-risk pregnant women to accelarate fetal pulmonary maturity. Amniocentesis was performed before and 48 to 72 hours after treatment in all 17 patients. Comparisons were made of lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios before and after treatment. The L/S ratio rose in 12 or 17 cases and was not influenced by the type of severity of maternal disease. Neither lenght of rupture of the membranes nor gestational age at the time of treatment affected the change in L/S ratio. Pretreatment L/S ratios (1.21 +/- 0.435 S.D.) were found to have a statistically significant difference from posttreatment values.