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Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
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Physiopathology of intrauterine growth retardation: from classic data to metabolomics

Angelica Dessì1, Giovanni Ottonello, Vassilios Fanos

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Puericulture Institute and Neonatal Section, AOU Cagliari, Italy.

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|October 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Adverse intrauterine conditions, like intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), permanently alter newborn metabolism, increasing adult disease risk. Metabolomics reveals these metabolic disruptions, aiding in early identification of neonatal disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Neonatal medicine
  • Metabolomics

Background:

  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and low birth weight are linked to adult chronic diseases, supporting the fetal origin of adult disease hypothesis.
  • Epidemiological studies demonstrate a correlation between low birth weight and the development of chronic pathologies later in life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review epidemiological evidence linking low birth weight to adult chronic diseases.
  • To explore metabolomics findings revealing altered metabolism in IUGR neonates.
  • To highlight the role of metabolomics in identifying neonatal metabolic disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological studies correlating birth weight with adult health outcomes.
  • Analysis of metabolomics studies comparing metabolic profiles of IUGR infants and controls.
  • Examination of established and novel biomarkers for IUGR.

Main Results:

  • Epidemiological data confirm the association between low birth weight and increased risk of adult chronic diseases.
  • Metabolomics studies identify distinct metabolic alterations in newborns experiencing IUGR compared to healthy controls.
  • Metabolomics offers a comprehensive approach to understanding neonatal metabolic dysregulation.

Conclusions:

  • Adverse intrauterine conditions significantly impact neonatal physiology and metabolism, predisposing individuals to adult diseases.
  • Metabolomics is a powerful tool for identifying and understanding metabolic disorders in IUGR neonates.
  • Integrating metabolomics with traditional biomarkers enhances the identification of IUGR-related health risks.

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