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Postnatal growth of intrauterine growth retarded infants
Insights
Newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) showed slower growth. Those with low ponderal index (PI) at birth achieved adequate PI by three months, indicating catch-up growth potential.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects fetal development.
- Assessing growth patterns in IUGR infants is crucial for early intervention.
- Ponderal index (PI) is a measure of infant body fat and size at birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the growth patterns of term newborns classified as IUGR versus adequate birth weight (ABW) up to one year of age.
- To investigate the role of ponderal index (PI) at birth in predicting catch-up growth in IUGR infants.
- To analyze growth velocity and body composition changes in different IUGR subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal follow-up of 205 term newborns until their first birthday.
- Classification of infants into IUGR (n=59) and ABW (n=146) groups.
- Subdivision of groups based on ponderal index (PI) at birth and throughout the first year.
Main Results:
- IUGR infants did not reach the weight and length of ABW infants by one year.
- IUGR infants with low PI achieved adequate PI by three months, showing catch-up growth.
- IUGR infants with adequate PI at birth remained smaller but maintained adequate PI throughout the first year.
Conclusions:
- Catch-up growth in some IUGR infants, particularly those with low birth PI, is driven by increased postnatal growth velocity in the first trimester.
- Ponderal index (PI) can be a useful, though limited, tool for monitoring heterogeneous IUGR infant growth patterns.
- Further research is needed to refine growth monitoring tools for diverse IUGR populations.
Abstract:
205 single, term newborns were followed up to their first birthdays. Each was classified as intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) (59), or adequate birth weight (ABW) (146), and further subdivided by their individual ponderal index at birth (PI). By the end of their first year the IUGR infants had not reached the weight and length of their normal counterparts. Those with low PI obtained adequate PI values by the third month; IUGR infants with adequate PI at birth remained shorter and lighter but with adequate PI throughout the first year of life. The catch-up process in the IUGR infants with low PI can be explained by a higher growth velocity in weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds apparent during the first trimester of postnatal life. The limitations of using PI as a tool to monitor the growth patterns of a heterogenous group of IUGR infants are discussed.