Blood pressure in the small-for-gestational age newborn.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the paper is to verify the existence of an inverse correlation between birth weight and blood pressure (BP) in neonates, infants and adolescents.


METHODS
BP was measured at 7 days, 3, 6, 9, 12 months and 7-18 years in 432 subjects born at term at the Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena; 228 of these subjects were small for gestational age (SGA) and 204 appropriate for gestational age (AGA). For small babies, BP was measured with a DYNAMAP oscillometer which provides digital visualisation of systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure and heart rate. In older children, a mercury sphygmomanometer was used. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 8.01 software using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality of populations.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis did not reveal any significant differences between SGA and AGA subjects in the various age classes of the first 12 months of life. Significant correlation was found between 7 and 18 years with differences in the various age classes for systolic pressure. Subjects with normal birthweight had lower systolic and diastolic BP. SGA males had higher risk of high systolic and diastolic pressure, whereas SGA females were only at higher risk for elevated diastolic pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
SGA subjects should be monitored for BP and life-style between 7 and 18 years to risk of cardiovascular disease.
Strambi
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. strambi@unisi.it
Vezzosi
P
P
Buoni
S
S
Berni
S
S
Longini
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009991:Oscillometry; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013599:Systole; D013997:Time Factors