Developmental outcome of isolated fetal microcephaly.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the neurodevelopmental outcome of children with prenatally diagnosed isolated microcephaly defined as head circumference more than 2 SD below the gestational mean.


METHODS
Children aged 2-6 years who had been diagnosed in utero as having head circumference measurements more than 2 SD below the gestational mean were compared with normocephalic children, utilizing a standard neuropsychological battery. Comparisons were also made within the study group.


RESULTS
HCs were between -2 and -4.8 SD, only one fetus having a HC below -3 SD. Children with a prenatal head circumference between 2 SD and 3 SD below the gestational mean did not differ significantly from the control group regarding cognitive, language and motor functioning. However, they exhibited more behavioral-emotional problems. There were no significant differences between children who had suffered from intrauterine growth restriction and those who had not, or between those with familial and those with non-familial microcephaly. Nevertheless, linear regression analysis showed that head circumference in utero helps predict cognitive functioning later in life.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatally diagnosed head circumference between 2 SD and 3 SD below the gestational mean is not a risk factor for later abnormal neuropsychological development.
Stoler-Poria
S
S
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Academic College of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Lev
D
D
Schweiger
A
A
Lerman-Sagie
T
T
Malinger
G
G
D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal