Possible perinatal determinants of adult diseases

Recently, several groups have studied the influence of possible noxious ele ments present in the intrauterine environment which may favor the developed of several disease in the adult. There is evidence of an increased prevale nce of some disorders in special risk groups of fetuses. In the small for g estational age patient, a form of "programming" may occur which produce met abolic changes in the fetus in response to malnutrition. There are several other associations described, but in most of them the precise pathogenic me chanisms involved have not been elucidated. In this article we present evid ence of several disorders which develop in the adult and their relationship with conditions during fetal life. Finally, we offer some recommendations to diminish these risks.