title: Etiology and perinatal outcome of polyhydramnios.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine causes of polyhydramnios and the respective perinatal outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed cases with polyhydramnios at the Medical University Graz, Austria from 2003 - 2011. Inclusion criteria were single deepest pocket ≥ 8  cm, amniotic fluid index ≥ 25  cm, each of the latter parameters > 95th percentile or subjective impression. Etiologies, including TORCH infection, diabetes and congenital malformations, as well as perinatal outcome were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 860 singleton pregnancies with polyhydramnios, 2.9 % had positive TORCH serology, 8.5 % had congenital anomalies, 19.8 % had maternal diabetes, and 68.8 % were idiopathic. The most common fetal anomalies were cardiac defects (32.9 %). Elective caesarean sections were more common in the groups with malformations and maternal diabetes. Low birth weight combined with severe polyhydramnios or maternal diabetes was associated with malformations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of polyhydramnios should prompt glucose-tolerance testing, detailed sonography including fetal echocardiography, and TORCH serology. Especially pregnancies with polyhydramnios and small fetuses as well as those with maternal diabetes should be carefully evaluated for malformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kollmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voetsch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koidl
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schest
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haeusler
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klaritsch
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal