[Diagnosis of meconium aspiration syndrome by fluorometry technique].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new diagnostic method of neonatal meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). METHODS: The fluorometry technique was used for examination of urine samples from three groups of neonates. The neonates were divided into 3 groups: Group I, MAS (n = 17); Group II, no MAS, but amniotic fluid with meconium stain (n = 24); Group III, normal control (n = 27). Urine fluorescence meconium index (UFMI) and urine meconium index (UMI) were calculated. RESULTS: UFMI values of group I were higher than that of group II and III. The sensitivity and specificity of UFMI were 100% and 97% respectivety. However, it were 51% and 48% respectivety in UMI. CONCLUSIONS: UFMI is an index for identification of Zn-coproporphycin, and it is a more sensitive index for diagnosis of MAS.

High-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of urine from asphyxiated newborn infants.

High-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study human urine obtained from 10 normal babies and twenty babies with various degrees of neonatal asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). All sick babies showed different degrees of oxygen deficiency, indicated by an obvious increase of the lactate signal level in the urine spectra. Changes in the concentration of other urinary metabolites produced from the citric acid cycle were also observed. In extremely serious cases, the signals of some of the major components, including citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and succinate, simply disappeared. The spectra of urine, serum, and CSF of an infant suffering from SIDS showed common characteristics of the metabolites.