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Fetal Adrenal Gland Volume a Novel Predictor of Onset of Labor

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Abstract

Introduction

There is a definite need to find a highly sensitive and specific, noninvasive, and cost-effective marker for prediction of preterm labor. We hypothesize that a measurement of adrenal gland volume can predict a preterm as well as a term labor.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred and sixty-eight pregnant women were enrolled in the study at 28–34 weeks’ antenatal visit. Final analysis was done in 204. All of them were subjected to 2D ultrasonographic measurement of the corrected fetal adrenal gland volume (cFAGV) and fetal adrenal zone parameters including the width ratio and depth ratio. The cohort was followed up to term, and a reassessment of cFAGV and fetal adrenal zone parameters was repeated between 37 and 39 weeks. Women who presented with features of preterm labor had a scan at the time of presentation to record cFAGV and fetal adrenal zone parameters.

Results

Women, who developed features of preterm labor eventually, had a significantly high cFAGV (404.70 mm3/kg body weight) during the first scan compared to those who reached term asymptomatically (241.35 mm3/kg body weight). A cutoff value of 271.16 mm3/kg body weight showed 90% sensitivity and 81.9% specificity. Fetal adrenal gland width ratio had the best efficacy (sensitivity 96.67%, specificity 86.2%) followed by cFAGV (sensitivity 96.67%, specificity 83%) for predicting preterm delivery.

Conclusion

2D ultrasound measurement of fetal adrenal gland parameters can be used as a marker for prediction of preterm delivery. cFAGV at term can also be used to predict the possibility of spontaneous onset of labor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of OBG, KMC Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India

    Chandana S. Bhat, Sapna Vinit Amin, Prashanth Adiga & Deeksha Pandey

  2. Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Chandana S. Bhat

Authors
  1. Chandana S. Bhat
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  2. Sapna Vinit Amin
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  3. Prashanth Adiga
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  4. Deeksha Pandey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chandana S. Bhat.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights

This research involved no human participants and/or animals.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all the patients in the study.

Additional information

Chandana S. Bhat is a Junior Resident in the Department of OBG, KMC Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka. Sapna Vinit Amin is a Associate Professor in the Department of OBG, KMC Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka. Prashanth Adiga is a Professor in the Department of OBG, KMC Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka. Deeksha Pandey is a Associate Professor in the Department of OBG, KMC Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka.

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Bhat, C.S., Amin, S.V., Adiga, P. et al. Fetal Adrenal Gland Volume a Novel Predictor of Onset of Labor. J Obstet Gynecol India 69, 252–257 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-018-1187-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-018-1187-4

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