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Follow-up study of small-for-dates babies
Insights
Intrauterine growth restriction impacts childhood development. Babies with slowed skull growth before 34 weeks gestation had lower height and weight, while early growth failure before 26 weeks correlated with reduced developmental quotients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Small-for-dates infants are at risk for long-term health and developmental issues.
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can have lasting effects on postnatal growth and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of intrauterine growth patterns on childhood growth and development.
- To determine the correlation between the timing of growth deceleration in utero and postnatal outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Serial ultrasonic cephalometry was used to monitor intrauterine growth in full-term, small-for-dates infants.
- Children were assessed at a mean age of 4 years for height, weight, and developmental quotient using the Griffiths extended scales.
Main Results:
- Infants whose skull growth slowed before 34 weeks gestation were more likely to be below the 10th centile for height and weight at 4 years.
- Onset of intrauterine growth failure before 26 weeks gestation was associated with a lower developmental quotient at follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged intrauterine growth restriction is linked to sustained slow growth and impaired development postnatally.
- The timing of growth deceleration in utero is a critical factor in predicting long-term developmental outcomes.
Abstract:
A group of small-for-dates full-term babies whose intra-uterine growth was followed by serial ultrasonic cephalometry were examined at a mean age of 4 years. Those children whose skull growth had begun to slow in utero before 34 weeks' menstrual age were more likely to have a height and weight less than the 10th centile. When the onset of growth failure had occurred before 26 weeks there was a lower developmental quotient at follow-up using the Griffiths extended scales. Prolonged slow growth in utero therefore seems to be followed by slow growth and development after birth.