title: A review of contemporary modalities for identifying abnormal fetal growth.
abstract: Detecting aberrant fetal growth has long been an important goal of modern obstetrics. Failure to diagnose abnormal fetal growth results in perinatal morbidity or mortality. However, the erroneous diagnosis of abnormal growth may lead to increased maternal anxiety and unnecessary obstetric interventions. We review the aetiology of deviant fetal growth and its implications both for the neonatal period and later in adult life. We examine maternal factors that may influence fetal growth such as obesity, glycaemic control and body composition. We discuss novel ways to improve our detection of abnormal fetal growth with a view to optimising antenatal care and clinical outcomes. These include using customised centiles or individualised growth assessment methods to improve accuracy. The role of fetal subcutaneous measurements as a surrogate marker of the nutritional status of the baby is also discussed. Finally, we investigate the role of Doppler measurements in identifying growth-restricted babies.
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. drclare.oconnor@gmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kennelly
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008365:Manometry; D055432:Metabolomics; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers