SEVERITY OF POLYHYDRAMNIOS DOES NOT AFFECT THE PREVALENCE OF LARGE-FOR-GESTATIONAL-AGE NEWBORN-INFANTS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of polyhydramnios with or without maternal diabetes and the prevalence of large-for-gestational-age newborn infants. A case contro l design was used. The study group consisted of 275 singleton pregnanc ies with an amniotic fluid index greater than or equal to 25.0 cm. An equal number of controls was matched for maternal age, gravidity, pari ty, and gestational age. Polyhydramnios was categorized into three gro ups by severity: mild (amniotic fluid index, 25 to 30 cm); moderate (a mniotic fluid index, 30.1 to 35.0 cm); and severe (amniotic fluid inde x greater than or equal to 35.1 cm). Among our study group, 72.7%, 19. 7%, and 7.6% of cases had mild, moderate, and severe polyhydramnios, r espectively. Patients with polyhydramnios had a significantly higher p revalence of large-for-gestational-age neonates (27%) than did control s (10%) (P < 0.001). No correlation was seen between the severity of p olyhydramnios and neonatal delivery weight. The prevalence of gestatio nal and class greater than or equal to B diabetes mellitus was signifi cantly higher among patients with polyhydramnios (17.7%) than among co ntrols (7%) (P < 0.003). Once polyhydramnios was diagnosed sonographic ally, however, maternal diabetic status did not affect the prevalence of large-for-gestational-age newborn infants. We conclude that the pre valence of large-for-gestational-age neonates is 2.7 times greater whe n polyhydramnios is present than when the amniotic fluid volume is nor mal. Neither the severity of polyhydramnios nor the presence of matern al diabetes mellitus strengthens the relationship between polyhydramni os and large-for-gestational-age newborn infants.