Amniotic fluid prolactin and fetal lung maturity.

Prolactin concentration and palmitic acid/stearic acid ratio were measured in 92 samples of amniotic fluid at various gestational ages. There was no correlation between prolactin concentration and palmitic acid/stearic acid ratio, when this ratio was greater than 5, that is when there was an obvious indication that fetal pulmonary maturation was complete. On the contrary there was a statistically significant negative correlation between prolactin levels and palmitic acid/stearic acid ratio when this ratio was lower than 5 (incomplete fetal pulmonary maturation).