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Neonatal morbidity occurs despite pulmonary maturity prior to 39 weeks gestation

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 322–325 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

To compare outcomes among late-preterm or early-term neonates according to fetal lung maturity (FLM) status.

Study Design:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 234 eligible singletons delivered after FLM testing before 39 weeks gestation at our center over a 2-year time period. A primary composite neonatal outcome included death and major morbidities.

Result:

The overall rate of primary composite morbidity was 25/46 (52.2%) and 61/188 (32.4%) in the immature/transitional and mature groups, respectively. After adjustment for confounders including gestational age, the composite outcome was not significantly different; adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.4 (confidence interval (CI)=0.7–3.0). The rate of respiratory distress syndrome was significantly higher in the immature/transitional group; odds ratio=3.4 (CI=1.1–10.3) as expected.

Conclusion:

FLM status did not correlate with the spectrum of neonatal morbidities in late-preterm and early-term births. Neonatal complications remained common in both groups.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the mothers who have entrusted University of Washington Medical Center with their care, the Department of Laboratory Medicine in constructing a list of FLM testing results, Evangelyn Nkwopara and Andrea Felt for research support, and WRHR (NICHD HD01264).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    J P Vanderhoeven, S E Peterson, E E Gannon & H S Gammill

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    D E Mayock

Authors
  1. J P Vanderhoeven
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  2. S E Peterson
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  3. E E Gannon
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  4. D E Mayock
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  5. H S Gammill
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J P Vanderhoeven.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of The Pregnancy Meeting (Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine), San Francisco, CA, USA. 11 February 2011 (Poster #488).

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Vanderhoeven, J., Peterson, S., Gannon, E. et al. Neonatal morbidity occurs despite pulmonary maturity prior to 39 weeks gestation. J Perinatol 34, 322–325 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.173

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