All issues > Volume 31(10); 1988

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1988;31(10):1275-1280. Published online October 31, 1988.

Diagnosis of Meconium Aspiration by Spectrophotometric Analysis of Urine.

Chang Yul Kim¹, Hye Kyung Bae¹, Mee Kyung Namgoong¹, Baek Keun Lim¹, Joong Soo Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea

Received: April 4, 1988;  Accepted: May 10, 1988.

Abstract

We measured optical density of aqueous extracts of meconium and meconium stained amniotic fluid at 390 nm, 405 nm, 420 nm, 435 nm, 450 nm by spectrophotometry. We also applied the spectrophotometric method to the urine from 25 infants with clinical sign of meconium aspiration and from normal infants. The absorption band at 450 nm observed on the spectra of urine was estimated as a Urinary Meconial Index (UMI=[OD405­­-(OD390+OD420/2)] X50). The results were as follows; 1) The absorption spectrum for a solution of meconium in water contains a peak at 405 nm. 2) A peak in the same position can be seen in urine from infants with meconium aspiration and in samples of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, but not in normal urine. 3) There is a clear separation of Urinary Meconial Index between normal infants and infants with meconium aspiration. These results suggest that spectrophotometric analysis of the first urine can in this way be used to diagnose preceding meconium aspiration.

Keywords :Meconium aspiration syndrome, Urine, Urinary Meconial Index