A biometric study of the fetal orbit and lens in normal pregnancies.

PURPOSE: To construct nomograms of the size of the fetal orbit and lens and to evaluate the relationships between the gestational age and the biometry of the fetal orbit and lens. METHOD: Six hundred two normal pregnant women were evaluated from 15 to 40 weeks of gestation. Fetal orbital and lens measurements were added to routine biometric measurements for normal fetuses. RESULTS: A total of 595 measurements were used for analyses. A strong linear correlation was observed between gestational age and orbital diameter, orbital circumference, and orbital surface. A linear correlation was also found between gestational age and lens diameter, lens circumference, and lens surface. A linear growth function was observed between biparietal diameter and both the orbital diameter and the lens diameter. CONCLUSION: Orbital and lens measurements provide data that correlate with fetal growth and development. These data may also help detect fetal ocular abnormalities.

Fetal ocular distance in normal pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To construct reference ranges of fetal ocular distance (interocular and binocular distance) and to evaluate the relationships between the gestational ages and fetal ocular distance. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Six hundred and two normal pregnant women were evaluated from the 15th to 40th week of gestation. Fetal ocular distance (interocular and binocular distances) was added to routine biometric measurements for normal fetuses. The fetal ocular distance (interocular and binocular distances) was also related to gestational age. RESULTS: Five hundred and ninety five measurements were used for analyses. A linear regression and correlation were observed between gestational age (GA) and interocular distance (y = 2.304 + 0.510 x GA, R2 = 0.887; p < 0.0001), and binocular distance (y = 2.590 + 1.420 x GA, R2 = 0.953; p < 0.0001). A linear growth function was observed between biparietal diameter (BPD) and both interocular distance (y = 2.854 + 0.203 x BPD, R2 = 0.888; p < 0.0001), and binocular distance (y = 3.893 + 0.568 x BPD, R2 = 0.965; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The present study provides normative data of fetal interocular distance and binocular distance. These data may be helpful in detection of fetal hypotelorism or hypertelorism.

Serum calcium and serum magnesium in normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to measure serum levels of calcium and magnesium in preeclamptic pregnancies and to compare them with those in normal pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected venous serum samples from 40 preeclamptic pregnant women and 40 normal pregnant women. The blood samples were analyzed for calcium and magnesium, using a colorimetric analyzer. The data were analyzed using the Student's t-test, chi2-test or Fisher exact tests when appropriate. RESULTS: The serum calcium concentration in preeclamptic pregnant women is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women (9.0 +/- 0.4 mg/dl vs. 9.7 +/- 0.7 mg/dl, p < 0.0001). Like serum calcium, serum magnesium concentration in preeclamptic women is significantly lower than that in normal pregnant women (0.77 +/- 0.08 mmol/l vs. 0.85 +/- 0.09 mmol/l, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study shows that both serum calcium and serum magnesium levels in preeclamptic pregnant women are lower than in normal pregnant women. These findings support the hypothesis that hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia are possible etiologies of preeclampsia.