[Ultrasonographic fetal growth curves in the West Indies. Apropos of 2930 measures of 889 fetuses].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the echographic foetal growth curves between 20 and 40 weeks amenorrhoea in the specific population of the West Indies. SITE. Gynecology-Obstetrics Unit, Redoute Hospital, Fort-de-France.


METHODS
All echographies performed between the 20th and 40th week of amenorrhoea in single foetus pregnancies in women of local origin who had undergone an echography before 15 weeks of amenorrhoea were included. Major malformations and chromosomic abnormalities were excluded.


METHODS
A total of 2,930 measurements of the biparietal, transverse abdominal diameters and length of femur were recorded in 889 foetuses. The curves for the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles were constructed by smoothing with a second end linear curve for each of the echographic parameters. For each parameter, the growth curves were compared with the curves established by Leroy and Bessis for the French population. The difference in the growth curves between the two populations were correlated to gestational age in order to establish whether there is a difference between the West Indies population and the metropolitan French population.


RESULTS
Comparison with the Leroy and Bessis curves revealed that the rate of growth in the transverse abdominal diameter and the length of femur was significantly different between the West Indies population and the French population (p < 0.01). Inversely, the rate of growth of the biparietal diameter was comparable for the two populations.


CONCLUSIONS
These growth curves provide echographists and obstetricians who examine patients of West Indies origin to adapt their obstetrical management. An ethnic factor cannot be excluded in explaining the difference between the two populations. This study confirms the requirement to establish foetal growth curves of each separate region.
Schaub
B
B
Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique II, Hôpital Redoute, CHU Fort-de-France.
Bru-Gueneret
M
M
Sainte-Rose
D
D
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D002508:Cephalometry; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D005602:France; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008395:Martinique; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Courbes échographiques de croissance foetale aux Antilles. A propos de 2,930 mesures portant sur 889 foetus.