RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To determine causes of polyhydramnios and the respective perinatal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed cases with polyhydramnios at the Medical University Graz, Austria from 2003â-â2011. Inclusion criteria were single deepest pocket ≥â8 âcm, amniotic fluid index ≥â25 âcm, each of the latter parameters >â95th 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, 2.9â% had positive TORCH serology, 8.5â% had congenital anomalies, 19.8â% had maternal diabetes, and 68.8â% were idiopathic. The most common fetal anomalies were cardiac defects (32.9â%). 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. CONCLUSION: 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.