Effects of intraamniotically administered thyroxin on acceleration of fetal pulmonary maturity in preeclamptic toxemia.

In 18 cases of serious and fairly serious toxemic pregnancy, the authors gave 500 micrograms L-Thyroxin "Henning" intraamniotically after the laboratory evaluation demonstrated negative pulmonary maturity from an amniotic fluid sample. Maternal and fetal complications due to the drug could not be observed. Despite a 39% premature incidence, IRDS and hyaline membrane disease were not observed. The administered T4 caused a positive change in the direction of the L/S ratio and the Clements test. The other amniotic fluid parameters did not change, except the T4 level. The extremely high T4 level obtained 48 hours later gradually became normal several days later. The T4 values obtained from the blood of the mother and the newborn on the 5th postnatal day were normal. In toxemic cases where the induction of labor is vital and there is a risk of IRDS and steroid application in contraindicated, intraamniotic thyroxin is recommended as prophylaxis for IRDS.