[Significance of the diamine-oxidase test in the diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of fetal membranes].

The authors report on their experience collected over a year of the use of the diamine-oxydase activity test after having collected the vaginal secretions on strips of Whatman paper placed in the vagina when they were trying to recognise premature rupture of the membranes. They studied: a control series of 90 patients (30 where the rupture was certain, 60 where it was definite that there was no rupture). They point out how reliable the method is at all stages of pregnancy and how simple and easy it is to carry out; a series of 89 consecutive patients whose clinical picture suggested premature rupture of the membranes; the diagnosis was shown to be wrong 48 times and confirmed 41 times (either immediately in 38 tests using DAO, or 48 hours after carrying out the first test in 3 cases). If this test is used to confirm that the membranes have really ruptured and to say when they have ruptured diamine-oxydase can be a very valuable factor when it is associated with the clinical picture and the ultrasound picture in leading to a rational handling of the case.