ASSESSMENT OF AMNIOTIC FLUID INDEX IN NORMAL PREGNANCY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL SETTING
Abstract
Background: Ultrasound assessment of amniotic fluid has important implication in obstetrics care andit has become an integral and important component of pregnancy assessment. Changes in amniotic fluid
volume are associated with adverse outcome. Excess volume is associated with foetal anomalies and
aneuploidy and less volume is associated with Intra Uterine Growth Retardation, renal anomalies in the
second trimester. The objective of this study was to establish a normative scale of Amniotic Fluid Index
(AFI) throughout gestation in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies, and to identify the lower and upper
limits for each gestational week. Method: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted in a private
tertiary care Hospital from Jan 2004 to April 2005. Amniotic fluid index was calculated in 400 women
attending the antenatal clinic. The gestational age of these women range from 20-40 weeks. Women
with foetal anomalies, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and other maternal
complication were excluded from study. The median, mean, 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile were
calculated for each gestation and these values are compared with other studies. Results: The amniotic
fluid index observations from regression equation curve were stratified in week-specific normative
curves. The mean of preterm was significantly greater than mean of term gestation (p<0.05). Our
median reached peak at 27th week of gestation another peak at 30-31 week. The values then begin a
gradual fall to 40 weeks gestation. Conclusion Gestational age specific values of AFI were established,
showing significant trends of changes in the amniotic fluid volume with gestation.
Keywords: Amniotic fluid index, normal pregnancy, Pakistan
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