Abstract
Of 1350 babies born at Group Health Hospital there were 4% who were 2SD or more down for gestational age in length, weight and/or head circumference. Each was examined to determine a specific clinical diagnosis and postnatal growth was followed. The most common diagnosis was maternal uterine constraint in 18(33%). 50% of the constraint babies had deformations beyond growth deficiency. These babies showed catch-up growth in the first month and complete by 2-6 mos. The second most common cause (16%) was heavy cigarette smoking. Only 6 of these 9 babies showed catchup growth within the first 6 months. 9% were genetically small babies of small parentage and they did not show postnatal catchup growth. There were 2 to 3 cases each of placental insufficiency, pre-eclampsia, a small MZ twin with A-V placental shunt, and a family history of SGA babies. Within these categories all showed catch-up growth except one of the MZ twins. 7 had malformation disorders and none of the 4 survivors showed catch-up growth.
Thus SGA is a non-specific feature which may be secondary to a host of different causes. The prognosis relates to the specific diagnosis. For the most common type of cause, late fetal uterine constraint, the prognosis for catch-up growth is excellent, The second most common, and most preventable cause, is heavy cigarette smoking, for which the prognosis is variable.
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Smith, D., S. Harvey, M., Bunn, B. et al. 1219 SPECIFIC DIAGNOSES AND PROGNOSES IN SGA INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 646 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01245
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01245