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Introduction to the study of pre- and postnatal growth in humans: a review
Insights
This review explores human growth from fetal development to adulthood, covering factors influencing growth, genetic abnormalities, and chromosomal effects on stature. It details conditions like intrauterine growth retardation and various genetic syndromes affecting growth patterns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Human growth is a complex process influenced by genetics, environment, and hormones.
- Understanding growth patterns is crucial for identifying developmental abnormalities.
- Fetal development, childhood growth, and pubertal changes are key stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of human growth and development.
- To discuss factors affecting fetal and childhood growth.
- To examine genetic and chromosomal influences on growth abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of fetal development, childhood growth, and genetic factors.
- Analysis of hormonal and genetic influences on stature.
- Description of growth patterns in various genetic syndromes and aneuploidies.
Main Results:
- Factors influencing fetal growth include maternal health and genetics.
- Normal growth patterns vary by sex, race, and nutrition.
- Genetic syndromes and aneuploidies (e.g., Down syndrome, Turner syndrome) significantly impact growth.
Conclusions:
- Growth abnormalities stem from diverse genetic and chromosomal factors.
- Hormonal and genetic interventions can address certain growth disorders.
- Comprehensive assessment is vital for diagnosing and managing growth issues.
Abstract:
This review is divided in several items. A brief introduction on the characterization of the growth processes is made; the ways of assessing fetal development and well-being, the factors acting on fetal growth and birth weight, the causes and post-natal consequences of prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation are discussed in the first part. The following items deal mainly with: the normal pattern of growth from birth to puberty according to sex, race, and nutritional status, with special mention to pubertal changes; methods for predicting adult height from skeletal age; the effect of hormones during pre- and post-natal life; and the genetics of adult stature. The remainder of this review deals with genetic causes of growth abnormalities. Constitutional delay of growth, familial short stature, hypothalamic-pituitary dwarfism, skeletal dysplasias and many genetic syndromes presenting intrauterine growth retardation are listed. Aneuploidy effects on human growth are extensively reviewed, and usual growth patterns in Down and Ullrich-Turner syndrome patients as well as other sex aneuploid individuals and mosaics are fully described. The influences of X and Y chromosomes on growth and maturation are also discussed. Finally, some remarks are made about overgrowth syndromes.