IS ISOLATED 2ND-TRIMESTER HYPERECHOGENIC BOWEL A PREDICTOR OF SUBOPTIMAL FETAL GROWTH

Hyperechogenic bowel has been described as a normal variant in second- trimester fetuses, but also in association with cystic fibrosis, chrom osomal abnormalities, congenital infection, intestinal obstruction and intra-amniotic bleeding. These fetuses are also at risk for poor peri natal outcome, mainly due to intrauterine growth retardation. In this report we examine the potential of ultrasonographic detection of isola ted fetal hyperechogenic bowel in the second trimester as a marker of subsequent suboptimal fetal growth. Second-trimester fetuses with hype rechogenic bowel in comparison to controls had a greater incidence of birth weight below the 10th centile (6/48, 12.5% vs. 4/149, 2.7%, resp ectively; p = 0.01) and lower mean birth weight (3176 g (SD 741 vs. 34 99 g (SD 493)), respectively; p = 0.001). There was no difference in t he prevalence of preterm delivery in both groups (3/48, 6.3% vs. 8/149 , 5.4%, respectively; p = 0.7). This study suggests that second-trimes ter fetuses normally-grown with isolated hyperechogenic bowel are at r isk for suboptimal fetal growth.