Persistence of polyhydramnios during pregnancy--its significance and correlation with maternal and fetal complications.

One hundred and thirteen cases of polyhydramnios diagnosed by repeated ultrasonic examinations in singleton pregnancies were divided into two groups according to the trend of change in the amniotic fluid volume between the first and the second ultrasonic examination. Group A patients (65 cases) showed an increase or no change in amniotic fluid volume, and in group B (48 cases) a reduction in amniotic fluid volume to mild polyhydramnios or to normal amniotic fluid volume was observed. A significantly increased rate (p < 0.05) of maternal complications such as diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, urinary tract infections, premature rupture of membranes and premature delivery was observed in group A. More abdominal deliveries and an increased rate of fetal anomalies, fetal abnormal presentations, intrauterine fetal death and neonatal death also occurred in this group. Group B patients, most of whom were idiopathic, showed a very favorable outcome.