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Published on: June 29, 2013
[Metabolic changes in prepuberty children with extrauterine growth restriction]
M Ortiz Espejo1, M Gil Campos, M C Muñoz Villanueva
1Unidad de Metabolismo e Investigación Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, España.
Insights
Children with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) show significant anthropometric, blood pressure, and metabolic changes in prepuberty. Early nutritional monitoring and long-term follow-up are crucial for managing these growth and metabolic alterations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Growth and Development
Context:
- Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in infancy is linked to nutritional deficits.
- These deficits may predispose children to metabolic issues later in life, similar to intrauterine growth restriction.
Purpose:
- To investigate anthropometric, blood pressure, and metabolic profiles in prepubertal children with a history of EUGR.
- To compare these parameters with a control group of healthy children.
Summary:
- Prepubertal children with EUGR exhibited significantly lower height and BMI, and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to controls.
- The EUGR group also showed higher glucose levels and lower HDL cholesterol, though not clinically significant.
Impact:
- Identifies key health alterations in children with EUGR during prepuberty.
- Highlights the need for optimized perinatal nutrition and continued pediatric follow-up to mitigate long-term health risks associated with EUGR.
Introduction:
Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) is associated with severe nutritional deficit during the first weeks of life, which, as intrauterine growth restriction, may lead to metabolic anomalies in later stages of life.
Patients And Methods:
A group of 38 prepuberty children with a history of EUGR were selected, along with a control group of 123 children with similar age and gender. Perinatal stage was assessed in the EUGR group. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, serum biochemical markers of carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid profile were measured in both groups.
Results:
The EUGR group had height and body mass index values significantly lower than in the control group (P<.001) and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P<.001). The majority (70%) of EUGR children were below the 50th percentile for weight and height, and 55% were below the 25th percentile for body mass index (P<.001), as well as 46% and 37% above the 95% percentile for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively (P<.001). The EUGR group had higher glucose levels (P<.001) and lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (P<.001) than the control group, although without clinical relevance.
Conclusions:
Children with a history of EUGR have anthropometric, blood pressure and metabolic alterations in the prepuberty stage. It would be desirable to control the nutrition they receive in the perinatal period, and follow them up in childhood as alterations may occur in the future.
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