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Neurodevelopmental outcome of small-for-gestational-age infants
R L Goldenberg1, H J Hoffman, S P Cliver
1University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-7333, USA.
Insights
Small for gestational age (SGA) infants show links to minimal neurologic dysfunction, particularly in males and lower socioeconomic groups. However, severe outcomes like cerebral palsy are rare, with vision and hearing typically unaffected.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Studies indicate a relationship between being small for gestational age (SGA) and adverse neurologic outcomes.
- Cerebral palsy is infrequently observed in SGA infants despite these associations.
- Minimal neurologic dysfunction is a more common finding in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between being small for gestational age (SGA) at birth and neurologic outcomes.
- To identify specific neurologic deficits and demographic factors associated with SGA.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on SGA infants and neurologic assessments.
- Analysis of associations between SGA status and various neurologic outcomes, including cerebral palsy and minimal neurologic dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Significant associations exist between SGA and general adverse neurologic outcomes.
- Minimal neurologic dysfunction is more prevalent in male and lower socioeconomic SGA children.
- Attention deficits, hyperactivity, clumsiness, and poor school performance are linked to minimal neurologic dysfunction in SGA children.
- Vision and hearing impairments are not typically observed in SGA infants.
Conclusions:
- While SGA is linked to adverse neurologic outcomes, severe conditions like cerebral palsy are rare.
- Minimal neurologic dysfunction, characterized by attention deficits and behavioral issues, is a key concern for specific SGA subgroups.
- SGA infants generally maintain normal vision and hearing.
Abstract:
Despite many methodological difficulties, studies evaluating the relationship between being small for gestational age (SGA) at birth and various measures of adverse neurologic outcome generally show significant associations. Nevertheless, cerebral palsy is rarely found in SGA infants. Minimal neurologic dysfunction is more commonly seen in males and lower socioeconomic SGA children, and is often associated with attention deficits, hyperactivity, clumsiness, and poor school performance. Vision and hearing are generally not disturbed in SGA infants.