%0 Journal Article
%T Intrauterine growth retardation - small events, big consequences
%A Taimur Saleem
%A Nida Sajjad
%A Sanna Fatima
%A Nida Habib
%A Syed R Ali
%A Maqbool Qadir
%J Italian Journal of Pediatrics
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1824-7288-37-41
%X Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is defined as a rate of growth of a fetus that is less than normal for the growth potential of a fetus (for that particular gestational age) [1]. It is diagnosed by two direct intrauterine growth assessments (ultra-sonographically) or when the fetal length (height) is less than two standard deviations (or third percentile) below the mean for gestational age [2]. IUGR can virtually be caused by any aberration in the normal biological processes that occur during the course of pregnancy and contribute to the growth of the fetus. It can be categorized as being either symmetric or asymmetric depending on the timing of the insult during pregnancy (Figure 1).A fetus affected by IUGR forms a subset of cases of Small for Gestational Age (SGA) infants [3]. In SGA, the estimated weight of the fetus is below the 10th percentile for its gestational age and abdominal circumference (AC) is below the 2.5th percentile [4]. In accurately dated pregnancies, approximately 80-85% of fetuses identified as being IUGR are constitutionally small but healthy, 10-15% are 'true' IUGR cases, and the remaining 5-10% of fetuses are affected by chromosomal/structural anomalies or chronic intrauterine infections [5]. IUGR can complicate 10% to 15% of all physiologic pregnancies [6]. However, it must be remembered that the incidence of such cases varies depending on the population, geographic location being scrutinized and the standard growth curves used as reference [4].Suboptimal fetal growth, as occurs in cases of IGUR, is an important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. The sequelae of IUGR include stillbirth, [3], detrimental neuro-developmental progress in childhood [3,4], higher risks of degenerative diseases in adulthood such as adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease as well as emotional, behavioral and social problems later in life [7,8]. IUGR is also associated with significant morbidity in the form of meconium aspirati
%U http://www.ijponline.net/content/37/1/41