title: Small-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal umbilical artery Doppler have suboptimal perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcome of small-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal umbilical artery Doppler managed expectantly during pregnancy and delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed from a cohort of singleton small-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal umbilical artery Doppler and normally grown controls matched by gestational age at delivery, parity and parental socio-economic level. Neurodevelopmental outcome was prospectively evaluated by means of the 24-month Age&Stage Questionnaire (ASQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 129 small-for-gestational-age fetuses and 259 controls were included. Small-for-gestational-age fetuses had a higher risk for neonatal intensive care unit admission (15.5% versus 3.9%; p<0.001) and significant neonatal morbidity (2.3% versus 0%; p=0.04) than controls. At 24-months, these fetuses showed significantly lower neurodevelopmental centile in the problem solving (42.8 versus 52.1; p=0.001) and personal-social (44.4 versus 54.6; p<0.001) areas than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcome in small-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal umbilical artery Doppler is suboptimal, which may challenge the role of umbilical artery Doppler to discriminate between normal-SGA and growth-restricted fetuses.
authors: Obstetrics and Neonatal Department, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. ffiguera@clinic.ub.es
authors: Francesc
authors: F
authors: Figueras
authors: Elisenda
authors: E
authors: Eixarch
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Meler
authors: Ainara
authors: A
authors: Iraola
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Figueras
authors: Bienvenido
authors: B
authors: Puerto
authors: Eduard
authors: E
authors: Gratacos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*