Lactate: Creatinine Ratio in Babies with Thin Meconium Staining of Amniotic Fluid
Author Information
Author(s): Rishi Kant Ojha, Saroj K Singh, Sanjay Batra, V Sreenivas, Jacob M Puliyel
Primary Institution: St. Stephen's Hospital, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
Can the lactate to creatinine ratio (L:C ratio) in urine predict hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in babies born with thin meconium staining of amniotic fluid?
Conclusion
Babies with thin meconium have much higher L:C ratios, indicating that meconium alone may not be a reliable indicator of asphyxia and HIE risk.
Supporting Evidence
- L:C ratio was significantly higher in babies with thin meconium compared to those with thick meconium.
- 40% of babies with thin meconium had L:C ratios above the cutoff of 0.64.
- Two babies with thin meconium and high L:C ratios developed signs of HIE.
Takeaway
This study looked at babies born with thin and thick meconium to see if their urine could tell us if they were in trouble. It found that babies with thin meconium had much higher levels of a certain chemical in their pee, which might mean they had problems before birth.
Methodology
The study analyzed urine samples from 86 newborns with meconium staining, comparing lactate and creatinine levels among those with thin meconium, thick meconium, and controls.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in sample selection as only babies without maternal infection were included.
Limitations
The study only followed babies until discharge and did not assess long-term outcomes for HIE.
Participant Demographics
Newborns of 36 to 42 weeks of gestation, with a mix of thin and thick meconium staining.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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