Serum lipids in newborns with intrauterine growth retardation

Background: The X syndrome, related to coronary disease in adults could be possibly programmed priory to delivery, in children with intrauterine growt h retardation. Aim: To measure serum lipids in newborns with symmetrical or asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation. Patients and methods: One hu ndred thirty five newborns with intrauterine growth retardation and 116 nor mal term newborns, with 38 to 41 gestational weeks, were studied. Total, HD L, and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apoproteins. A1 and B were measur ed in imbilical cord blood samples. Results: No differences in total, HDL, LDL cholesterol, apoproteins A1 and B were observed between the study group s. Triglycerides were higher in newborns with intrauterine growth retardati on, compared to normal term newborns (45 +/- 27 and 36 +/- 19 mg/dl respect ively, p<0,001). Differences in serum triglyceride levels respect to contro ls were observed in both male and female newborns with asymmetrical growth retardation. Likewise the differences respect to controls were observed in newborns with mild or severe but not with moderate growth retardation. Conc lusions: Newborns with intrauterine growth retardation have higher triglyce ride levels than normal term newborns.