PRENATAL GROWTH IN SYMMETRICAL AND ASYMMETRIC SMALL-FOR-GESTATIONAL-AGE INFANTS

We tested the hypothesis that growth retardation in symmetric small-fo r-gestational-age (SGA) infants may start in the first trimester of pr egnancy, whereas in asymmetric SGA infants, it may start in the third trimester. We also examined if there may be a brain sparing effect in asymmetric SGA infants. Infants were classified as symmetric or asymme tric SGA by the ponderal index at birth. We included 163 symmetric and 108 asymmetric SGA infants, and 474 non-SGA infants. Intrauterine gro wth was assessed by prenatal ultrasonic measurements of fetal abdomina l diameter, femur length and biparietal diameter at week 17, 25, 33 an d 37 of gestation. Cross-sectional data as well as longitudinal growth curves suggested that growth retardation in both SGA groups started i n the second trimester, and followed similar patterns until birth. Thu s, our results did not support the hypothesis that symmetric and asymm etric growth retardation is associated with clear temporal differences in growth, and we found no sign of brain sparing in asymmetric compar ed to symmetric SGA infants. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.