title: Evaluation of the auxological and metabolic status in prepubertal children born small for gestational age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low birth weight (BW) (<2,500 g) is associated with a high risk of impaired postnatal growth and late metabolic consequences. The aim of this study is to describe the postnatal growth pattern and the metabolic status of children born small for gestational age (SGA) and compare them with premature children born with low (1,500-2,500 g) and very low (<1,500 g) BW.
  
  
  METHODS
  104 prepubertal children (47 males and 57 females) aged 3.0 to 8.9 years were divided into four groups according to their birth weight adjusted for gestational age (GA): SGA-premature (SGApr): BW < -2 SD, GA <37 wk (n = 17); SGA-full-term (SGAt): BW < -2 SD, GA >37 wk (n = 29); low birth weight (LBW): BW = 1,500-2,500 g, GA <37 wk (n = 35); very low birth weight (VLBW): BW <1,500 g, GA <37 wk (n = 23). The control group consisted of 27 full-term appropriate for gestational age, prepubertal children matched for age. All children had anthropometric and laboratory measurements. The HOMA model was used to estimate insulin resistance (IR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were significantly lower in the SGA groups -- both term and premature -- (p <0.05) and particularly lower in the VLBW children (p <0.01). At the age of 36 months, 99.6% of SGAt and a smaller percentage of SGApr (88.2%) children achieved catch-up growth. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were lower in the children born SGA, both term and premature, compared to the controls (p <0.05) and especially in those who had catch-up after the age of 6 months (p <0.002). VLBW children aged 6-8.9 years had significantly higher HOMA compared to controls of the same age group (p = 0.005), whereas no evidence of IR was found in the SGA children. None of the children had developed premature adrenarche by the day of examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prepubertal children born SGA and VLBW are thinner and shorter than their age-matched controls. A larger percentage of SGA full-term children achieve catch-up growth than SGA premature children by 3 years of age. SGA children and especially those with late catch-up growth have lower IGF-I levels. Children with VLBW show evidence of IR at age 6-8.9 years. None of the girls showed precocious sexual development by the day of examination.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Makarios Hospital, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Meropi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toumba
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjidemetriou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topouzi
authors.forename: Savvas C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Savva
authors.forename: Rena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demetriadou
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanaris
authors.forename: Nicos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skordis
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I