Relation of amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and fetal asphyxia to respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

In a group of 81 prematurely delivered infants the amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio was related to functional fetal lung maturity. Intrapartum fetal asphyxia occurred in 33% of the group. An association between fetal asphyxia and the development of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the infant was observed. When pulmonary maturity was borderline according to the amniotic fluid assessment, intrapartum fetal asphyxia was associated with an increased risk for development of RDS in the infant.