Written By: IJCP Editorial Team

Published On: 27 Mar, 2025 12:07 PM | Updated On: 30 Mar, 2025 5:02 PM

Effects of Oral Arginine and IV Hydration on Amniotic Fluid Index in Oligohydramnios

Amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus, can decrease in volume, leading to a condition called oligohydramnios, which usually occurs when the volume is less than 8 cm. It is believed that increasing maternal plasma volume and enhancing uteroplacental blood flow with nitric oxide (NO) donors can help improve the amniotic fluid index (AFI). This study aimed to compare the effects of oral arginine supplementation alone versus the combined treatment of oral arginine and intravenous (IV) hydration on AFI in patients at risk of preterm labor.

This randomized, comparative study was conducted in a hospital setting. Pregnant women between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation with an AFI of 8 cm or less were enrolled and divided into two groups. Group I received oral arginine for one week, while Group II received both oral arginine and daily IV hydration with fructodex and Ringer’s lactate for one week. Participants were monitored weekly with ultrasound until delivery.

The outcome showed that after treatment, the increase in AFI was 0.95 ± 1.11 cm for Group I and 1.87 ± 1.22 cm for Group II. Moreover, the average duration of pregnancy extension was 4.48 weeks in Group I and 4.24 weeks in Group II.

Thus, it can be concluded that combining oral arginine with IV hydration led to a greater short-term increase in AFI compared to oral arginine alone. However, pregnancy outcomes were similar in both groups. Continuous oral arginine supplementation until delivery may be a more effective and practical approach for managing borderline oligohydramnios.

Source: Janarthanam S, Sendhil Coumary A, Oral arginine versus IV fructodex and oral arginine in the treatment of borderline idiopathic oligohydramnios: A randomised comparative study. Indian J Obstet Gynecol Res 2025;12(1):38-42.