PEDIATRICS Vol. 75 No. 4 April 1985, pp. 764-769
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Colloid Osmotic Pressure of Umbilical Cord Plasma in Healthy and Sick Newborn Infants

Henrik Ekblad MD1, Pentti Kero MD1, Heikki Korvenranta MD1, Risto Erkkola MD1, and Ilkka Välimäki MD, MSc1

1 From the Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Cardiorespiratory Research Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Colloid osmotic pressure of umbilical cord plasma was measured in 242 healthy infants, in 34 infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), in 18 infants with asphyxia, in 13 infants who were small for gestational age, in 15 infants born to mothers with diabetes mellitus, and in 18 infants born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension. In healthy infants, colloid osmotic pressure correlated highly significantly with umbilical cord blood total protein level, gestational age, and birth weight. In infants with RDS, no correlation between colloid osmotic pressure and gestational age or birth weight was found. Infants with RDS and gestational age between 36 and 38 weeks had significantly lower colloid osmotic pressure than healthy infants, whereas colloid osmotic pressure of infants with RDS and gestational age between 32 and 35 weeks did not differ from that of healthy infants of corresponding gestational age. Healthy term infants delivered by cesarean section had significantly lower colloid osmotic pressure than infants delivered vaginally. Infants with asphyxia had significantly higher colloid osmotic pressure than healthy infants. Colloid osmotic pressure is related to the lung maturity of the near-term and term neonate. Infants with a colloid osmotic pressure greater than 16 mm Hg are unlikely to develop RDS.

Key Words: colloid osmotic pressure • umbilical cord plasma • respiratory distress syndrome • neonate

Submitted on March 26, 1984
Accepted on June 13, 1984