Intrauterine Growth Restriction

(1)
Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
 
Key Points
1.
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is defined as fetal weight below the tenth percentile and an abdominal girth below the 2.5 percentile.
 
2.
Factors associated with IUGR can be categorized as fetal genetic, uterine environmental, maternal, toxic exposures, and constitutional.
 
3.
Complications associated with IUGR include early complications (increased mortality, pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, still birth) and late complications (learning, behavioral, and developmental abnormalities).
 

Background

Fetal growth is among the most important of parameters monitored during the course of prenatal care. Although the majority of pregnancies proceed with no complications in fetal growth, a small number will show evidence of growth restriction. A variety of conditions are associated with or increase the risk for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). These factors are summarized in Table 6.1.
Table 6.1
Risk factors for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
Fetal-genetic factors
Chromosomal abnormalities (e.g., trisomy 21)
Neural tube defects
Achondroplasia
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Gastrointestinal (gastroschisis, duodenal atresia, pancreatic agenesis)
Renal disease (renal agenesis)
Neurofibromatosis
Uterine-environmental factors
Infection
Cytomegalovirus
Rubella
Herpes, varicella
Influenza
Toxoplasmosis
Oligohydramnios
Placental abnormalities
Placenta previa
Abruptio placentae
Placental malformation
Multigestation
Uterine anatomic abnormalities
Maternal factors
Prior IUGR infant
Hypertension
Diabetes (may also be associated with macrosomic infants)
Nutritional deficits
Gastrointestinal malabsorption
Constitutional short stature
Vascular disease
Toxic exposures
Smoking
Alcohol
Illicit drugs (heroin, cocaine)
Prescription medications (folic acid antagonists, warfarin)
Constitutional
Constitutional short stature
Female
Birth order
IUGR is defined as fetal weight below the tenth percentile and an abdominal girth below the 2.5 percentile for gestational age. As this definition implies, accurate fetal dating is critical to the diagnosis. At term, this corresponds to a birth weight of 2500 g (~5.5 lb). By this definition, approximately 5 % of all US infants demonstrate evidence of IUGR, accounting for approximately 175,000 infants annually in the United States.

Risk Factors

Factors associated with IUGR can be categorized into five categories: fetal genetic, uterine environmental, maternal, toxic exposures, and constitutional factors.

Fetal-Genetic Factors

A variety of genetic conditions are associated with restricted fetal growth and account for approximately 10 % of all cases. Early fetal growth is predominantly driven by growth in the number of fetal cells, cellular hyperplasia. This process is strongly influenced by genetic and fetal factors. As such early growth restriction is predominantly associated with fetal-genetic factors. Such conditions as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and Turner’s syndrome are associated with an increased risk for IUGR. Structural growth defects such as anencephaly, achondroplasia, osteogenesis imperfecta, and renal and gastrointestinal (GI) defects are all associated with an increased risk of IUGR.

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Sep 23, 2016 | Posted by in OBSTETRICS | Comments Off on Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access