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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Postnatal Anthropometric and Body Composition Profiles in Infants with Intrauterine Growth Restriction Identified by
E Mazarico1,2,3,4, R Martinez-Cumplido1,2,3,4, M Díaz5,6
1BCN-Barcelona Center of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Neonatology (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Hospital Clínic), Fetal i+D Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Prenatal Doppler findings did not significantly impact infant growth or body composition in the first year for newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This suggests IUGR
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Research
- Fetal Development
- Pediatric Body Composition
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) impacts infant anthropometry and body composition at birth.
- The relationship between prenatal Doppler findings and postnatal development in IUGR infants remains understudied.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial for characterizing IUGR phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the significance of prenatal Doppler findings in relation to postnatal anthropometrics and body composition in IUGR newborns.
- To investigate changes over the first 12 months of life.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of singleton pregnancies with suspected IUGR.
- Fetal biometry and Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed.
- Body composition was assessed using absorptiometry at 10 days, 4 months, and 12 months.
Main Results:
- 48 IUGR pregnancies were studied; 26 had normal Doppler parameters, 22 had abnormal parameters (e.g., high UA-PI or low CPR).
- No significant differences in anthropometry (weight, length, BMI) or body composition (lean mass, fat mass, bone mineral content) were observed between groups at any time point.
- Subgroup analysis of abnormal Doppler findings (UA-PI vs. CPR) also showed no significant differences in postnatal outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Infants with IUGR exhibit a consistent body composition pattern during the first year, irrespective of prenatal Doppler findings.
- Prenatal Doppler assessment may not be a reliable predictor of postnatal body composition in IUGR infants.
- Further research with larger cohorts and hormonal correlation is needed to refine IUGR characterization.
Introduction:
Infant anthropometry and body composition have been previously assessed to gauge the impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) at birth, but the interplay between prenatal Doppler measurements and postnatal development has not been studied in this setting. The present investigation was performed to assess the significance of prenatal Doppler findings relative to postnatal anthropometrics and body composition in IUGR newborns over the first 12 months of life.
Patients And Methods:
Consecutive cases of singleton pregnancies with suspected IUGR were prospectively enrolled over 12 months. Fetal biometry and prenatal Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed. Body composition was assessed by absorptiometry at ages 10 days, and at 4 and 12 months.
Results:
A total of 48 pregnancies qualifying as IUGR were studied. Doppler parameters were normal in 26 pregnancies. The remaining 22 deviated from normal, marked by an Umbilical Artery Pulsatility Index (UA-PI) >95th centil or Cerebro-placental ratio (CPR) <5th centile. No significant differences emerged when comparing anthropometry and body composition at each time point, in relation to Doppler findings. Specifically, those IUGR newborns with and without abnormal Doppler findings had similar weight, length, body mass index, lean and fat mass, and bone mineral content throughout the first 12 months of life. In a separate analysis, when comparing IUGR newborns by Doppler (abnormal UA-PI vs. abnormal CPR), anthropometry and body composition did not differ significantly.
Conclusions:
Infants with IUGR maintain a pattern of body composition during the first year of life that is independent of prenatal Doppler findings. Future studies with larger sample sizes and correlating with hormonal status are warranted to further extend the phenotypic characterization of the various conditions now classified under the common label of IUGR.
