Desquamative fibrosing alveolitis

In the original article by Dubowitz et al. (1970) and in the subsequent studies there were few infants ofvery lowweight or gestational age: there were only 3 infants at 32 weeks, one at 31, and 2 at 28 weeks. The line for the lower gestations is an extrapolation of the correlation found nearer term. Singer et al. (1973) added a further 16 scores below 32 weeks. It is therefore gratifying to have found a satisfactory correlation between the scored and calculated ages in the present study. The correlation could probably be improved if detailed antenatal findings were also used to calculate the duration of gestation. But it is in communities where such antenatal care is minimal that the highest incidence of very premature deliveries occurs. Mothers from less sophisticated backgrounds are, however, surprisingly accurate with their dates.