Biomaterial Database

[Ultrasonic detection of fetal vernix in amniotic fluid as and index to fetal maturity]. 1991

W H Sepúlveda, and H Araneda, and A Avendaño

Servicio de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Clínico Regional Guillermo Grant Benavente, Universidad de Concepción.

The relationship between ultrasonographic detection of fetal vernix and visual assessment of amniotic fluid (AF) and fetal pulmonary maturity evaluated by the "shake test" was studied in 73 high-risk patients undergoing amniocentesis for obstetrical indications. The AF was classified as type I, type II, and type III, depending on the subjective amount of vernix detected. Ultrasound predicted correctly 7 out of 11 cases of type I AF (64%), 14 out of 22 cases of type II AF (64%), and 38 out of 40 cases of type III AF (95%). When ultrasonography detected type I AF the "shake test" was negative in all cases, whereas if type II or type III were found, the "shake test" was positive in 40% and 86%, respectively. Our results suggest that sonographic detection of type I AF is associated with immaturity, thus amniocentesis should be avoided in such cases. Conversely, if a type III AF is detected a mature fetus is found in almost 90% of the cases. The observation of AF detecting fetal vernix during third trimester sonography is a simple manoeuver that can help to avoid the use of amniocentesis, an invasive procedure associated with some serious fetal and maternal complications.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260	Female		Females
D005325	Fetal Organ Maturity	Functional competence of specific organs or body systems of the FETUS in utero.	Fetal Maturity, Functional,Functional Fetal Maturity,Maturity, Fetal Organ,Maturity, Functional Fetal,Organ Maturity, Fetal
D005865	Gestational Age	The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination.	Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000653	Amniotic Fluid	A clear, yellowish liquid that envelopes the FETUS inside the sac of AMNION. In the first trimester, it is likely a transudate of maternal or fetal plasma. In the second trimester, amniotic fluid derives primarily from fetal lung and kidney. Cells or substances in this fluid can be removed for prenatal diagnostic tests (AMNIOCENTESIS).	Amniotic Fluid Index,Amniotic Fluid Indices,Amniotic Fluids,Fluid Index, Amniotic,Fluid Indices, Amniotic,Fluid, Amniotic,Fluids, Amniotic,Index, Amniotic Fluid,Indices, Amniotic Fluid
D014708	Vernix Caseosa	An unctuous substance composed of sebum and desquamated epithelial cells, which covers the skin of the fetus.	Caseosa, Vernix,Caseosas, Vernix,Vernix Caseosas
D016216	Ultrasonography, Prenatal	The visualization of tissues during pregnancy through recording of the echoes of ultrasonic waves directed into the body. The procedure may be applied with reference to the mother or the fetus and with reference to organs or the detection of maternal or fetal disease.	Fetal Ultrasonography,Prenatal Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonography, Fetal,Diagnosis, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Prenatal Ultrasonography,Ultrasonic Diagnosis, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnosis,Diagnoses, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonic Diagnoses, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnoses