Total protein, electrophoretic patterns, total amino acid and creatinine in the amniotic fluid of premature infants.

Total protein, total amino acid, creatinine and the 5 major protein fractions were determined in amniotic fluid samples from 42 normal and 12 premature neonates. Total protein, albumin, globulin, total amino acid, creatinine and A/G ratio were significantly lower in the 6 premature infants who developed the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than in the controls. The alpha 1, alpha 2 and gamma globulin levels were within the normal ranges. In the 4 premature stillborn babies, total protein and globulins were significantly higher than those of the controls, while the albumin, total amino acid and creatinine levels were normal. A/G ratio for this group was still lower than that for the former group and much lower than the control ratio. The remaining 2 premature alive infants showed a significant decrease in the alpha 1, alpha 2 globulins and creatinine levels. Slight increase in total amino acid, and significant increase in the beta globulin, while total protein, albumin, gamma globulin and A/G ratio were within the normal ranges.