The Relationship between Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) & Single Largest Vertical Pocket and Perinatal Outcome in Late Severe Preeclampsia

Backgound: the amniotic fluid is a clear fluid that surrounds the fetus, and produced in part by the amniotic cells, maternal blood during the first trimester of pregnancy and fetal urine and lung fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy. It serves as a cushion to the fetus allowing musculoskeletal development and protecting it from trauma. It also maintains temperature and has a minimal nutritive function. Evaluation of AFV through ultrasound measurement is an essential part in tests of fetal well-being (BPP), by measuring the AFI or the MVP. Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate both AFI and single deepest pocket in patients with late severe preeclampsia, and to correlate both markers with different parameters of fetal outcome. Patients and Methods: the study was a prospective controlled study involving 100 women with severe preeclampsia >34w managed at Al Hussein University Hospital and Al Arish General Hospital with the following inclusion criteria, pregnant patients, age 18- 40 years old, with variable parity and a singleton living fetus >34 weeks gestation, and with severe preeclampsia. Results: the neonatal outcomes regarding meconium is more with AFI group than MVP group while the neonatal outcome regarding NICU, RDS & Neonatal death in both groups were similar with no evidence of a statistical difference between both techniques. Conclusion: we concluded that AFI had more significant statistical relationship with perinatal outcome, hence AFI appeared to be a better predictor of perinatal outcome in preeclamptics in late severe preeclampsia.