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Is there a relationship between fetal weight and amniotic fluid index?
1Department of Obstetrics, Princess Royal Maternity Unit, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, UK. philipowen1@hotmail.com
Objective:
To establish whether there is a relationship between the amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight in the third trimester. The presence of a relationship would require adjustment of amniotic fluid index to take account of estimated fetal weight with potential improvement in its prediction of adverse perinatal outcomes.
Methods:
Paired measurements of amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight from 274 low-risk pregnancies enrolled in a longitudinal study of fetal growth. Measurements were made at fortnightly intervals from 30 weeks' gestation until delivery. A relationship between amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight was sought at gestational age week intervals of 30-32, 33-35, 36-38 and 39-41.
Results:
One thousand and three pairs of measurements of amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight were available for analysis. Mean amniotic fluid index decreased towards term as expected. There was no correlation between amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight. Furthermore, there was no correlation between amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight at any of the gestational age intervals.
Conclusions:
There is no clinically relevant correlation between amniotic fluid index and estimated fetal weight. It should remain clinical practice to take account of gestational age when interpreting amniotic fluid index but it is not necessary to make adjustments for estimated fetal weight.