title: Fetal femur length/abdominal circumference ratio in preterm labor patients with and without successful tocolytic therapy.
abstract: A correlation has been suggested between impaired fetal growth and preterm delivery. To further investigate this possibility, the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio (FL/AC) was used as a gestational-age independent index of fetal growth in 82 patients admitted because of preterm labor. Of these patients, 43 delivered at term; tocolysis was unsuccessful in 39 patients who delivered preterm. The FL/AC was significant larger in the group with unsuccessful tocolytic therapy compared with the successfully treated group, 23.6 +/- 2.6 vs. 21.3 +/- 1.3 (mean + SD), respectively (P less than 0.001). These results indicate that preterm delivery may be associated with suboptimal fetal growth.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012312:Ritodrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D012312:Ritodrine; D013726:Terbutaline