Oligohydramnios indicates which diseases?

Oligohydramnios indicates which diseases?

• A. IUGR, Potter's syndrome, poor lung maturity, renal malformations
• B. Esophageal atresia, TE fistula, hydrops fetalis
• C. Hydrops fetalis
• D. Polyhydramnios

Answer: (A)

Oligohydramnios means there is too little amniotic fluid, which typically points to reduced fetal urine production or other conditions affecting fluid balance. The strongest associations are fetal renal issues and growth restriction. When the fetus has impaired kidneys or renal malformations, urine output drops and amniotic fluid decreases, leading to oligohydramnios. Potter’s sequence is a classic example of this, arising from renal anomalies that cause persistent low fluid, with downstream effects like pulmonary hypoplasia. IUGR also reduces urine production as the fetus struggles to grow, contributing to low fluid levels. Poor lung maturity can follow chronically low amniotic fluid, since adequate fluid is important for lung development. In contrast, esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula typically cause polyhydramnios (excess fluid) because the fetus cannot swallow amniotic fluid efficiently. Hydrops fetalis is a separate pathophysiology involving edema and fluid accumulation, which isn’t a defining indicator of oligohydramnios. Polyhydramnios itself is the opposite state of oligohydramnios.

Oligohydramnios means there is too little amniotic fluid, which typically points to reduced fetal urine production or other conditions affecting fluid balance. The strongest associations are fetal renal issues and growth restriction. When the fetus has impaired kidneys or renal malformations, urine output drops and amniotic fluid decreases, leading to oligohydramnios. Potter’s sequence is a classic example of this, arising from renal anomalies that cause persistent low fluid, with downstream effects like pulmonary hypoplasia. IUGR also reduces urine production as the fetus struggles to grow, contributing to low fluid levels. Poor lung maturity can follow chronically low amniotic fluid, since adequate fluid is important for lung development.

In contrast, esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula typically cause polyhydramnios (excess fluid) because the fetus cannot swallow amniotic fluid efficiently. Hydrops fetalis is a separate pathophysiology involving edema and fluid accumulation, which isn’t a defining indicator of oligohydramnios. Polyhydramnios itself is the opposite state of oligohydramnios.