Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Growth Pattern of Preterm Neonates with Fetal Growth Restriction: A Prospective Cohort Study
Sarthak Chakrabarti1, Praachi Singh2, Anish Keepanasseril3
1Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, 605006, India.
Insights
Preterm infants with fetal growth restriction (FGR) showed higher rates of wasting and underweight compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants up to 18 months corrected age. However, FGR infants demonstrated significantly greater catch-up growth in weight and length.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Growth and Development
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) impacts preterm neonate development.
- Understanding growth trajectories in preterm infants is crucial for long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare growth patterns between preterm neonates with FGR and those born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA).
- To assess anthropometric indices and identify risk factors for underweight status up to 12-18 months corrected age.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 85 preterm FGR and 85 matched AGA neonates.
- Follow-up from birth to 12-18 months corrected age, comparing anthropometric indices.
- Analysis of risk factors for underweight status.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher proportion of FGR infants were wasted (24.3% vs. 7.2%) at 12-18 months corrected age (P=0.005).
- FGR neonates exhibited significantly greater catch-up growth in weight (52.8% vs. 13.1%) and length (37.9% vs. 8.7%) from 40 weeks postmenstrual age (P<0.001).
- Independent predictors of underweight status included low weight z-score at 3 months, delayed full feeds, and hypothyroidism.
Conclusions:
- Preterm FGR neonates have a higher prevalence of wasting compared to AGA neonates up to 18 months corrected age.
- Preterm FGR infants demonstrate significantly enhanced catch-up growth in weight and length compared to AGA infants.
Objectives:
To compare the growth of preterm neonates with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preterm neonates born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) from birth to 12-18 mo of corrected age (CA).
Methods:
In this prospective cohort study, 85 preterm neonates with FGR and 85 gestation- and gender-matched AGA neonates were followed up from birth till 12-18 mo corrected age. Anthropometric indices were compared at specific time points and the risk factors for underweight status were analyzed.
Results:
Mean gestational age of the cohort was 32.8 ± 2.1 wk. Mean birth weight was 1414 ± 248 g in the FGR and 1806 ± 416 g in AGA neonates. At 12-18 mo of corrected age, a significantly greater proportion of FGR infants were wasted (24.3% vs. 7.2%, P = 0.005). A greater proportion of FGR infants were underweight (27% vs. 17.4%, P = 0.11), stunted (41.9% vs. 36.2%, P = 0.30), and microcephalic (27% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.36), although the differences were not statistically significant. Significant catch-up growth from 40 wk postmenstrual age (PMA) to 12-18 mo corrected age in weight (52.8% vs. 13.1%, P <0.001) and length (37.9% vs. 8.7%, P <0.001) was observed in the FGR neonates. The z-score of weight for age at 3 mo (adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.52-0.8; P <0.001), the median time to full feeds (aOR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15; P = 0.001), and hypothyroidism (aOR 2.44, 95% CI: 1.46-4.08; P = 0.001), were independent predictors of underweight status at 12-18 mo.
Conclusions:
At 12-18 mo of corrected age, a significantly greater proportion of preterm FGR neonates were wasted compared to AGA ones. The former also exhibited significantly greater catch-up growth than the latter.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
01:29Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns