[Prospective comparison of term small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates during the...

Aim of the prospective study was to investigate perinatal parameters and outcome of term SGA neonates. 100 term neonates were enrolled into 2 groups: group 1: 50 SGA neonates with birth weight below tenth percentile, group 2: 50 appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates. Both groups were compared concerning parental anamnesis, perinatal parameters, postnatal adaptation and development during the first days of life. After discharge from the hospital all children were observed during the first 15 weeks. In all infants the gain of weight, length, head circumference and the amount and type of nutrition were recorded. It was observed that only 13% of the SGA neonates were small children of small parents. Most of the SGA neonates had a normal target high. We found a significantly increased number of mothers with disturbed uterine or placental perfusion in the SGA group as well as increased problems in postnatal adaptation. SGA children had a significantly faster increase of gaining weight and a higher amount of nutrition during the first 15 weeks of life. This could be an early sign of catch-up-growth in SGA neonates, which could be regard as a part of the complex risk for developing a metabolic syndrome in formerly SGA children.