Ultrasonographic measurement of amniotic fluid volume in normal diamniotic twin pregnancies. 1996

A C Chau, and S L Kjos, and B W Kovacs
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to determine the amniotic fluid volume in normal diamniotic twins. METHODS The single amniotic fluid index for both twin members, the maximum depth and width of each twin's largest pocket, were measured every 4 to 6 weeks between 15 and 40 weeks in 91 normal diamniotic twin gestations. The two-diameter pocket in each twin was determined as its largest pocket's depth multiplied by its width. Normal twin gestations were defined as those with <20% birth weight discordance, appropriate for gestational age, no fetal anomalies, delivery at > or = 37 weeks, and normal newborns. Amniotic fluid index values, depths, and two-diameter pockets were stratified into 2-week intervals and transformed into base 10 logarithms because of their nongaussian distributions. The correlations of these measurement with gestational age were evaluated. Their means and 90%, 95%, and 98% confidence intervals were determined. RESULTS The amniotic fluid index changed significantly with gestational age. However, depths and two-diameter pockets did not. The amniotic fluid index rose from 15 to 24 weeks, plateaued until 36 weeks, and then declined. The 90%, 95%, and 98% confidence intervals for each twin's depth were 2.4 to 7.9, 2.1 to 8.8, and 1.9 to 10 cm, respectively (mean 4.3 cm). These respective confidence intervals for each twin's two-diameter pocket were 8 to 44, 7 to 52, and 5 to 63 cm2 (mean 19 cm2). The amniotic fluid index confidence interval curves were plotted from the log (amniotic fluid index)=0.8276 + 0.01675x-0.0000001900x4, R2=0.78, p=0.002 (where x is gestational age). CONCLUSIONS The amniotic fluid volume in normal diamniotic twin pregnancies was established ultrasonographically. Only the amniotic fluid index changed significantly with gestational age. These findings may have significance in the clinical management of twin gestation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011272 Pregnancy, Multiple The condition of carrying two or more FETUSES simultaneously. Multiple Pregnancy,Multiple Pregnancies,Pregnancies, Multiple
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D005260 Female Females
D005865 Gestational Age The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination. Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000653 Amniotic Fluid A clear, yellowish liquid that envelopes the FETUS inside the sac of AMNION. In the first trimester, it is likely a transudate of maternal or fetal plasma. In the second trimester, amniotic fluid derives primarily from fetal lung and kidney. Cells or substances in this fluid can be removed for prenatal diagnostic tests (AMNIOCENTESIS). Amniotic Fluid Index,Amniotic Fluid Indices,Amniotic Fluids,Fluid Index, Amniotic,Fluid Indices, Amniotic,Fluid, Amniotic,Fluids, Amniotic,Index, Amniotic Fluid,Indices, Amniotic Fluid
D000704 Analysis of Variance A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable. ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses

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