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Published on: June 29, 2013
[Does customized weight curves improve prenatal diagnosis of fetuses small for gestational age in a high-risk
A Lerebours1, R Callec1, E Lauria2
1Département de gynécologie et obstétrique, CHRU de Nancy, 54000 Nancy, France.
Insights
Customized growth charts did not improve antenatal detection of small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses in preterm infants. This study found no significant difference in detection rates compared to standard population curves for high-risk pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Fetal Medicine
- Neonatology
Background:
- Accurate antenatal diagnosis of small for gestational age (SGA) is crucial for managing high-risk pregnancies.
- Customized growth charts aim to improve SGA detection by accounting for individual fetal growth potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of customized growth charts for antenatal detection of SGA in preterm infants.
- To compare customized charts with population-based curves in a high-risk preterm cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of preterm infants born at a French university maternity center.
- Comparison of customized growth charts (Ego et al.) with population growth curves for antenatal SGA diagnosis.
- Analysis of infants classified as SGA postnatally using customized charts.
Main Results:
- Sixty-seven preterm infants were included; 76.1% were classified SGA by customized charts but not population curves.
- The sensitivity for antenatal SGA detection was not significantly different between customized charts (29.85%) and population curves (41.79%) at the 10th percentile (P=0.05).
- The average time between the last ultrasound and birth was 2.2 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Customized growth charts did not enhance the antenatal detection of SGA in this high-risk preterm population.
- Further research may be needed to refine customized growth chart methodologies for improved clinical utility in preterm infants.
Objectives:
To assess the accuracy of customized growth charts for the ultrasound antenatal diagnostic of fetus small for gestational age in a high-risk population of preterm.
Methods:
All premature infants born in a French university maternity center for a year and classified as small for gestational age at birth by using customized growth charts developed by Ego et al. were included in this retrospective study. At the ultrasound performed closest to the term, customized growth charts and population growth curves were compared for the antenatal diagnosis of a premature infants group classified small for gestational age in post-natal by customized growth charts and more at risk of perinatal complications.
Results:
Sixty-seven newborns were included in the study. Fifty-one (76.1%) were secondarily classified as small for gestational age although they were eutrophic on the basis of population growth curves and 16 (23.9%) were small for gestational age on both curves. The average time between the last ultrasound and birth was 2.2 weeks. On the threshold of the tenth percentile, the sensitivities of customized growth charts and curves in population were not significantly different (29.85% versus 41.79% P=0.05) for antenatal detection of fetus small for gestational age.
Conclusion:
In our study, the use of customized growth charts does not improve the antenatal detection of most at-risk children.
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