title: Basal and post-ischemic vascular compliance in children/adolescents born small for gestational age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrauterine growth restriction plays a powerful role in influencing later susceptibility to certain chronic diseases, such as hypertension. Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness are early events in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We have studied vascular compliance in small for gestational age (SGA) children/adolescents in comparison with that in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We monitored blood pressure, vascular resistance and compliance in 82 children-adolescents (52 SGA, 30 AGA), by means of pulse wave analysis (CR 2000 HDI) at the radial level, before and after 3 min of ischemic stress at the brachial level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the children/adolescents born SGA we found a significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and vascular resistance in the basal condition; the large and small vessels were stiffer. After ischemia we observed an increased vascular response in the SGA children/adolescents: there was a great diminution of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a larger increase of the elasticity of the conduit and resistance vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that the SGA group presented some early signs of arterial wall functional disorders. More pediatric data are needed for the evaluation by non-invasive techniques of vascular function in children-adolescents at risk of CVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 36, 53100, Siena, Italy. strambi@unisi.it
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strambi
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messa
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berni
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pammolli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iacoponi
authors.forename: Costantina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Censurato
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magne Tene
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorica
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vittoria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003187:Compliance; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*