title: Amniotic fluid index: correlation with amniotic fluid volume.
abstract: We calculated the amniotic fluid indexes (AFIs) of 310 women on 459 occasions. Normative data were analyzed and compared with data in several high-risk groups. In the normal gestations there was a progressive increase in AFI with advancing gestation until 32 weeks, after which there was a decline. The mean AFIs in abnormal gestations varied with the clinical diagnoses. These values were compared to those obtained by assessing amniotic fluid volume (AFV), that is a pocket more than 2 cm. There were 51 patients with abnormal AFVs. Forty-two had decreased fluid, six also had decreased AFIs; nine had increased AFVs and five (all with diabetes) also had increased AFIs. Thus, AFIs in normal pregnancies showed an orderly pattern of change with gestational age, and there was no accurate correlation between AFI and AFV. Thus, using AFV alone may lead to false interpretations of amniotic fluid status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Hoskins
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ordorica
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Frieden
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005332:Fetoscopy; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal