Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Fetal Adrenal Gland in Cases of Threatened Preterm Labor

Preterm birth continues to be a major public health problem with lasting family and societal repercussions. Despite tremendous research effort, prevention strategies have failed, and the prevalence of preterm birth in the United States reached 12.3% in 2003. Prematurity causes 70% of fetal/neonatal deaths. 11.4% of births are at \< 37 weeks' gestation. The rate of prematurity increases dramatically with the number of fetuses - singletons 10%; twins 54.9%; and triplets 93.6%