Six-year follow-up of children with intrauterine growth retardation: Long-term, prospective study

This prospective study was designed to characterize the neurodevelopmental and cognitive difficulties specific to children with intrauterine growth re tardation and to detect early clinical predictors of these difficulties. Ei ghty-one children with intrauterine growth retardation were monitored up to 6 to 7 years of age using biometric parameters, perinatal risk questionnai res, and detailed neurodevelopmental and cognitive assessments. Forty-one c hildren served as age-matched, appropriate for gestational age controls. A significant difference in growth parameters (P < .001), neurodevelopmental score (P < .05), and IQ (P < .05) was found between the children with intra uterine growth retardation and controls. A specific profile of difficulties in coordination, lateralization, spatial and graphomotor skills, and abund ance of associated movements is typical of the children with intrauterine g rowth retardation and hints at possible later learning disabilities. The cl inical parameters best predicting neurodevelopmental outcome were the neona tal risk score (P < .05) and the weight and height at 6 years of age (P < . 05). The children with intrauterine growth retardation with neonatal compli cations had lower neurodevelopmental scores than the controls but no differ ence in IQ. Intrauterine growth retardation children diagnosed prenatally h ad the same neurodevelopmental and IQ scores as those diagnosed at birth, p robably due to the careful perinatal and obstetric care provided. Children with intrauterine growth retardation demonstrate a specific profile of neur odevelopmental disabilities at preschool age. Early diagnosis and intervent ion could probably reduce these difficulties to a minimum.