Fetal Kidney Length as an useful Added Parameter for the Better Prediction of Gestational Age

Author: G. Yuvabalakumaran, G. Hamsini Devi, R.M. Sidhesh, R. Sathiyanarayanan and Anupritha S.

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Abstract

The accuracy of traditional biometric parameters decreases with advancing gestational age. Hence accurate dating of pregnancies in the late second or third trimester remains a challenge. Our study was carried out to overcome this challenge, by measuring the fetal kidney length from the late second trimester and using it as a tool for the assessment of gestational age. The present study was done with the objective of determining the correlation between fetal kidney length and other biometric parameters such as BPD, HC, FL, AC derived gestational age with the gestational age derived from last menstrual period (LMP). This was prospective study carried out between February 2021 and December 2022 among 200 well dated pregnant women with no associated risk factors. Pearson correlation test was applied. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Strong positive correlation also existed between gestational age predicted by fetal kidney length and biparietal diameter in the second (0.823) and the third trimester (0.720), respectively. The strong positive correlation also found between gestational age predicted by foetal kidney length and head circumference during the second (0.807) and third trimester (0.718). The AC values and FK GA also exhibited a strong positive correlation at the second (0.797) and the third trimester (0.774). The femur length and FK GA exhibited a strong positive correlation at the second trimester (0.802) and a moderate positive correlation at the third trimester (0.491). A strong positive correlation was found to be present between FK GA and BPD (0.953), HC (0.948), AC (0.954) and FL (0.887). FKL can be used as a reliable and additional parameter for determination of gestational age.

Keywords

Fetal kidney length, biparietal diameter, head circumference, gestational age, ultrasonogram, femur length

Conclusion

FKL positively correlated with BPD, HC, AC and FL. Normogram of the Fetal Kidney Length shows that there is a linear relationship between the gestational age and the fetal kidney length. FKL can be used as a reliable and additional parameter for determination of gestational age.

References

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How to cite this article

G. Yuvabalakumaran, G. Hamsini Devi, R.M. Sidhesh, R. Sathiyanarayanan and Anupritha S. (2023). Fetal Kidney Length as an useful Added Parameter for the Better Prediction of Gestational Age. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(6): 408-413.