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Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
14:19

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Published on: June 29, 2013

Childhood cognitive development after fetal growth restriction

E Llurba1, A A Baschat, O M Turan

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
|January 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal umbilical artery (UA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) Doppler findings in low-birth-weight children were not linked to cognitive development outcomes at 3 and 6 years. This study found no significant differences in cognitive scores between groups with normal or abnormal Doppler findings.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal medicine
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Fetal imaging

Background:

  • Low-birth-weight (LBW) infants are at risk for developmental delays.
  • Prenatal Doppler ultrasound of umbilical artery (UA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) can assess fetal well-being.
  • Fetal growth restriction (FGR) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) are common in LBW neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal UA and ICA Doppler findings and cognitive development in LBW children.
  • To compare cognitive outcomes at 3 and 6 years in LBW children classified as SGA versus FGR based on Doppler findings.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 209 LBW children (born >28 weeks gestation) was studied.
  • Prenatal UA and ICA Doppler resistance indices (RI) were assessed within 2 weeks of delivery.
  • Cognitive ability was evaluated at 3 and 6 years using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (SBIS).

Main Results:

  • Children were categorized as SGA (normal Doppler, n=122) or FGR (abnormal Doppler, n=87).
  • Mean SBIS scores at 3 years (109.4) and 6 years (110.5) did not differ between SGA and FGR groups.
  • The proportion of children with delayed development (SBIS < 85) was similar in both groups at 3 years (10.5% overall).

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal prenatal UA and ICA Doppler findings are not predictive of lower cognitive development scores in LBW children.
  • Third-trimester delivery in LBW infants with abnormal Doppler findings does not appear to negatively impact cognitive outcomes at 3 and 6 years.
Abstract

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