Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 15, Issue 5 395-399, Copyright © 1996 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Effect of indomethacin on individual amniotic fluid indices in multiple gestations
L. M. Hill, N. Lazebnik and A. Many
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.
To determine the effect of indomethacin on the amniotic fluid index of
individual fetuses in multiple gestations, we evaluated seven sets of twins
and two sets of triplets in preterm labor (eight cases) or with
polyhydramnios (one case). The dose of oral indomethacin was either 25 mg
every 12 hours or 25 mg every 6 hours. The amniotic fluid volume of
individual amniotic sacs was estimated serially by the amniotic fluid
index. When an oral dose of indomethacin of 25 mg every 6 hours was used,
oligohydramnios eventually occurred in five of eight amniotic sacs and a
subjective decrease in amniotic fluid occurred in one sac. Oligohydramnios
was detected in only one of 13 amniotic sacs when the dose of indomethacin
was 25 mg every 12 hours. The amniotic fluid volume returned to normal in
these seven amniotic sacs within 4 days of discontinuing indomethacin. We
conclude that maternal indomethacin therapy has a variable effect on the
individual amniotic fluid volumes in multiple gestations.
