[Child development following severe intrauterine growth retardation--results of follow-up studies]

94 prenatally severely dystrophic newborn (year of birth: 1970 to 1982) of the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Cologne were catamnestically investigated when they 2 to 12 years of age; follow-up examinations were performed by paediatricians, neurologists, EEG specialists and by test psychology. In more than one-half of the children followed up in this manner delays in early childhood development were seen; there were no conspicuous differences between the two groups (classified according to years of birth). On comparing the age brackets 1970-1975 and 1976-1982 about one-third of the children in both groups presented at follow-up clearly evident signs of retarded growth. In 32% of the children born between 1970 and 1975 mostly mild neurological deficits or slight impairments of nerve function were observed, whereas in the 1976-1982 group this figure was 26%. The incidence of cerebral pareses was 7% and 9%, respectively. Disturbances of fine motor response were most frequently seen. Mild to moderate EEG changes occurred in both patient groups at about the same rate of incidence (34% and 32% respectively); one child in each group presented with definitely pathological electroencephalographic findings. Pathological test psychology results were seen in 38% (1970-1975) and 21% (1976-1982) of the followed-up children; the tests employed were the Göttingen form reproduction test in children born between 1970 and 1975 and the Denver development test in the younger children born between 1976 and 1982.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)