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      Catch-Up Growth in Short-at-Birth NICU Graduates

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          Abstract

          The statural catch-up growth, defined as reaching at least tenth length/height percentile (P10) for normal population standards (–1.28 SD score, SDS), was studied in 73 infants short at birth (length < P10 for gestational age) admitted to NICU. Mean gestational age at birth was 35.2 weeks (range 29–41) and mean birth length standard deviation score –2.31 (–4.52/–1.46). Infants were measured at birth, at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months corrected age and then once a year until 6 years chronological age. Statural catch-up growth was studied, with reference both to normal population standards and to individual genetic target. With reference to normal population standards, 44% of infants had caught-up at 3 months of age, 51% at 3 years, 66% at 4 years and 73% at 6 years. In the case of individual genetic targets, a similar trend was present, but the absolute values were slightly higher from 4 to 6 years (73 vs. 66% and 78 vs. 73%, respectively). Statistically significant changes in mean standard deviations score for chronological age were present from birth to 3 months, 3 to 12 months, 3 to 4 years and 5 to 6 years (p < 0.05). No differences were found in this trend of recovery when considering ponderal index (PI) at birth (symmetrical vs. asymmetrical), sex (male vs. female) or gestational age (p > 0.05). In the majority of cases infants with short stature at birth admitted to a NICU had a statural catch-up growth within the first years of life. This is more evident when considered in relation to individual genetic target rather than to normal population standards.

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          Children Born Small-for-Gestational Age: Postnatal Growth and Hormonal Status

          It is generally recognized that children born small-for-gestational age (SGA) have a 5–7 times higher risk of short stature than children born at normal size. It has been suggested that the programming of the endocrine axes occurs during critical phases of fetal development and is affected by intrauterine growth retardation. This study was undertaken to characterize the postnatal growth pattern and the final height of children born SGA, as part of a population- based study (n = 3,650), from birth to final height, and to evaluate the hormonal status in another group of prepubertal children born SGA (n = 134) without postnatal catch-up growth. The majority (88%) of ‘healthy’ full-term singleton SGA infants achieved catch-up growth during the first 2 years of life, and most of the increase in height occurred by 2 months of age. The SGA children who remained short at 2 years of age had a higher risk of short stature later in life. The risk of having a short final height (<–2 SDS) was five times higher for children with a low birth weight and seven times higher for those with a low birth length in comparison with children with a normal birth size. Moreover, about 20% of all children of short stature were born SGA. As a group, children born SGA will have a final height, expressed in SDS, as they had during the prepubertal years. This is in contrast to children, who became short postnatally. During puberty, these short children will have a mean height gain of 0.6 SDS for girls and 0.7 SDS for boys. The mean estimated secretion rate for growth hormone (GH) was lower in the short children born SGA compared with the reference groups born at an appropriate size for gestational age, of either short (p < 0.05) or normal stature (p < 0.001). Moreover, in the youngest children born SGA (2–6 years of age) a different pattern of GH secretion was found, with a high basal GH level, low peak amplitude, and high peak frequency. The majority of the children born SGA had levels of GH-binding protein within the range previously reported for normal children. However, the levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and leptin were significantly reduced compared with the reference values (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, the low spontaneous GH secretion rate and a disturbed GH secretion pattern, together with low serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and leptin, might contribute to the reduced postnatal growth in some of the subgroup of children born SGA who remained short during childhood.
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            Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Definition and Etiology

            Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a frequent cause of perinatal morbidity as well as of impaired growth during childhood. Therefore, a clearcut definition of IUGR to identify those babies at risk is essential: The label IUGR generally should be assigned only to those infants with birth weight and/or birth length below the 10th percentile for GA with a pathologic restriction of fetal growth. According to the recent literature, clinical classification of the retarded babies seems to be less significant. Among the etiologic factors responsible for IUGR, one-third of the variations in birth weight are determined by genetic variables, two-thirds by environmental factors. In spite of the fact that a long list of established, different etiologic factors is known, in at least 40% of children no underlying pathology can be identified. Among the preventable, environmental causes of IUGR, smoking of the mother during pregnancy is by far the most important one, which is responsible for more than one third of all IUGR newborns.
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              Long-Term Consequences of Intrauterine Growth Retardation

              Recent studies in Europe, North America and the developing world have shown that low birth weight or other indices of abnormal fetal growth in babies born at term are linked with a higher prevalence of raised blood pressure, non-insulin-dependent diabetes and cardiovascular disease in late adult life. These findings have led to the ‘fetal origins’ hypothesis which proposes that fetal adaptations to an adverse intrauterine environment programme persistent physiological and metabolic changes which predispose to these diseases. The mechanisms are unknown, but evidence from animal studies and preliminary evidence in humans suggest that impaired fetal nutrient supply permanently alters neuroendocrine development in the offspring resulting in long-term changes in the set point of adrenocortical and sympathoadrenal hormonal activity.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                HRE
                Horm Res Paediatr
                10.1159/issn.1663-2818
                Hormone Research in Paediatrics
                S. Karger AG
                1663-2818
                1663-2826
                2000
                2000
                12 October 2000
                : 53
                : 3
                : 139-143
                Affiliations
                Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Italy
                Article
                23552 Horm Res 2000;53:139–143
                10.1159/000023552
                11044794
                a260e968-32d9-4ec2-8293-40ff99661f5c
                © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

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                History
                Page count
                Figures: 2, Tables: 1, References: 28, Pages: 5
                Categories
                Original Paper

                Endocrinology & Diabetes,Neurology,Nutrition & Dietetics,Sexual medicine,Internal medicine,Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical medicine
                Catch-up growth,Stature,Low-birth-weight infant

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