Relationship between in utero sonographic evaluation and subcutaneous plicometry after birth in infants with intrauterine growth restriction: an exploratory study.
BACKGROUND
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with several medical complications before and after delivery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between the fetal ultrasonographic measurement of subcutaneous tissue thicknesses and the skinfold thicknesses assessment in intrauterine growth restricted newborns.


METHODS
We designed an exploratory study. Fetal ultrasonographic measurement of subcutaneous tissue thicknesses, according to Bernstein's and Galan's method, and neonatal skinfold thicknesses were evaluated in 13 intrauterine growth restricted newborns within 4 hours before delivery and on the first day of life, respectively. Concordance between fetal and neonatal measurements was assessed using the Lin's correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman method.


RESULTS
The data obtained by the measurements of neonatal skinfold thicknesses was significantly correlated with the prenatal measurements (Lin's coefficients, arm: 0.60; subscapular: 0.72; abdomen: 0.51). Bland-Altman analysis showed moderate agreement between the fetal ultrasonographic measurement of subcutaneous tissue thicknesses and the neonatal skinfold thicknesses assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides preliminary evidence that fetal sonographic measurements may represent additional indices of intrauterine growth restriction.
NICU, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, University Department of Mother and Infant Sciences, University of Milan, Italy. nadia.liotto@unimi.it
Nadia
N
Liotto
Tatjana
T
Radaelli
Anna
A
Orsi
Emanuela
E
Taricco
Paola
P
Roggero
Maria L
ML
Giannì
Dario
D
Consonni
Fabio
F
Mosca
Irene
I
Cetin
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging