Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Preeclampsia and Future Implications on Growth and Body Composition in Preterm Infants
Elisabeth Calek1, Julia Binder2, Pilar Palmrich2
1Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine and Neuropaediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Background:
Preeclampsia is associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which can lead to impaired postnatal growth and neurodevelopment in preterm infants. Preeclampsia can also occur without IUGR and its impact on postnatal nutrition, growth, and body composition remains not fully investigated to the best of our knowledge.
Methods:
This study included infants born before 37 weeks of gestation who underwent air displacement plethysmography to measure body composition (fat-free mass [FFM] and fat mass [FM]) at term-equivalent age. We compared infants born to mothers with preeclampsia and IUGR (PE-IUGR group) and preeclampsia without IUGR (PE-non-IUGR group) to those born to mothers without preeclampsia (control group).
Results:
In total, 291 infants were enrolled (control: n = 227; PE-non-IUGR: n = 43; PE-IUGR: n = 21). FFM was significantly lower in the PE-IUGR (mean differences -231 g (IQR: (-373, -88); p < 0.001)) and PE-non-IUGR groups (mean differences -260 g (IQR: (-372, -149); p < 0.001)) in comparison to the control group. FM was not significantly different between the three groups.
Conclusions:
This study indicates that infants of preeclamptic mothers, even without IUGR, had significantly lower FFM at term-equivalent age compared to the control group. Further research is necessary to determine if these variations can be modified.
Related Concept Videos
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
Teratogenicity
Signs of Puberty
Nature and Nurture
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Inborn Errors of Metabolism

