Differentiation of growth retarded from normally grown fetuses and prediction of intrauterine growth retardation using Doppler ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the hypothesis that infants exhibiting catch-up growth as an indicator of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) have a higher incidence of predelivery abnormal Doppler results. SETTING. Obstetric unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds.


METHODS
One hundred and ninety-six women with singleton pregnancies at high risk of IUGR, delivered between October 1992 and August 1993.


METHODS
Postnatal catch-up growth during the first seven months.


RESULTS
Forty-six of the 196 infants demonstrated catch-up growth and were therefore classified as growth retarded; 85% of this group had had abnormal Doppler results prior to delivery, compared with 14% of the normally grown group. However, there is considerable overlap in birthweight ratio distribution between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the existence of a population of IUGR infants of average birthweight ratio. Doppler appears to distinguish IUGR (as defined by catch-up growth) from normal growth more successfully in infants with an average birthweight ratio than in infants with a low birthweight ratio and is a better predictor of IUGR than SGA.
Bates
J A
JA
Department of Ultrasound, ST James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Evans
J A
JA
Mason
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000503:physiopathology; D001724:Birth Weight; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology