ROLE OF PROLACTIN IN FETAL LUNG MATURATION

AIM To find out the role of prolactin in fetal lung maturation.- STUDY DESIGNProspective pilot study,where 75 random antenatal patients between 32 weeks to term were selected.During delivery cord blood of about 3ml collected and prolactin levels measured.And the values correlated with apgar,development of RDS NICU admissions. RESULTS- In normal pregnancy (control group ) prolactin increases with gestational age.With gestational age 34 -37 weeks mean prolactin 280.61ngml,compared with gestational age 38-40 weeks mean prolactin 429.50ngml. In our study serum prolactin is lower in babies with apgar 5.Whenever serum prolactin is lower, babies also had low apgar. In our study, when prolactin is significantly lower,(mean value 147.80 ngml) babies developed RDS and all 4 b a b i e s w e r e a d m i t t e d i n NICU.CONCLUSION- Our study clearly indicates role of fetal prolactin in fetal lung maturation. Prolactin direct trigger in lecithin synthesis or in a chain reaction along hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and important for lung maturation surfactant synthesis