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Early spontaneous catch-up growth

Johan Karlberg1, Kerstin Albertsson-Wikland, Chi Wai Kwan

  • 1Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong SAR, PR China. jpekarl@hkucc.hku.hk

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|January 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Most infants born small for gestational age (SGA) achieve normal adult height through early catch-up growth within six months. Defining fetal growth at six months better reflects developmental trajectory than birth size.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) often experience catch-up growth.
  • Assessing fetal growth solely by birth size may not accurately predict long-term growth outcomes.
  • Hormonal factors like insulin-like growth factors play a crucial role in early infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate factors associated with early catch-up growth in healthy children.
  • To evaluate the predictive value of early growth markers for final adult height.
  • To determine an optimal time point for assessing fetal growth.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of healthy children in Göteborg, Sweden.
  • Tracking growth parameters from birth up to adulthood.
  • Analysis of catch-up growth patterns in infants born small for gestational age (SGA) and non-SGA infants.

Main Results:

  • 82.9% of infants born small for gestational age (SGA) exhibited catch-up growth by 6 months.
  • 94.3% of SGA infants reached a normal final height range.
  • Of infants remaining short at 6 months, 15.2% stayed short into adulthood, while 56% showed spontaneous catch-up growth.

Conclusions:

  • Early catch-up growth by 6 months is a strong indicator of achieving normal adult height.
  • Body size at 6 months may be a more relevant measure of fetal growth than birth size.
  • Fetal growth regulatory mechanisms are critical during the first six months of life.

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