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Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Neurodevelopment of infant with late fetal growth restriction
Tamara Stampalija1,2, Claudia Ciardo3, Moira Barbieri3
1Unit of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy - tamara.stampalija@burlo.trieste.it.
Insights
Late fetal growth restriction may increase neurological and behavioral risks in newborns. While cerebral blood flow changes are implicated, more research is needed to confirm causality.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Late fetal growth restriction (FGR) is gaining attention for its potential long-term impacts.
- While less severe than early FGR, late FGR may pose risks for neurological dysfunction.
- Understanding these risks is crucial for perinatal care and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing evidence on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of fetuses with late FGR.
- To explore the association between Doppler-identified cerebral blood flow redistribution and adverse neurodevelopment.
- To identify gaps in current research regarding late FGR and neurological impairment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating neurodevelopmental outcomes in late fetal growth restriction.
- Analysis of evidence linking cerebral blood flow redistribution (a Doppler hallmark) to neurological risks.
- Assessment of study heterogeneity and limitations in distinguishing early vs. late FGR.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a potential increased risk of neurological dysfunction and behavioral impairment in fetuses with late FGR.
- Cerebral blood flow redistribution in late FGR appears associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Current studies are heterogeneous, complicating definitive conclusions on causality.
Conclusions:
- Fetuses experiencing late fetal growth restriction may be at higher risk for neurodevelopmental issues.
- Cerebral blood flow redistribution is a potential marker for adverse outcomes, but causality is not yet established.
- Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between late FGR and long-term neurological health.
Abstract:
Late fetal growth restriction has increasingly gain interest. Differently from early fetal growth restriction, the severity of this condition and the impact on perinatal mortality and morbidity is less severe. Nevertheless, there is some evidence to suggest that fetuses exposed to growth restriction late in pregnancy are at increased risk of neurological dysfunction and behavioral impairment. The aim of our review was to discuss the available evidence on the neurodevelopmental outcome in fetuses exposed to growth restriction late in pregnancy. Cerebral blood flow redistribution, a Doppler hallmark of late fetal growth restriction, has been associated with this increased risk, although there are still some controversies. Currently, most of the available studies are heterogeneous and do not distinguish between early and late fetal growth restriction when evaluating the long-term outcome, thus, making the correlation between late fetal growth restriction and neurological dysfunction difficult to interpret. The available evidence suggests that fetuses exposed to late growth restriction are at increased risk of neurological dysfunction and behavioral impairment. The presence of the cerebral blood flow redistribution seems to be associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, however, from the present literature the causality cannot be ascertained.
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