Intra-uterine growth restriction as a risk factor for hypertension in children six to 10 years old.
BACKGROUND
Intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is present in about 3-10% of live-born newborns and it is as high as 20-30% in developing countries. Since the 1990s, it has been known that abnormalities during foetal growth may result in cardiovascular disease, including hypertension in adulthood.


METHODS
This study evaluated blood pressure parameters (using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring) in children aged six to 10 years old, born as small for gestational age (SGA), and compared them to their healthy peers born as appropriate for gestational age (AGA).


RESULTS
In the SGA group, an abnormal blood pressure level (prehypertension or hypertension) was present significantly more often than in the AGA group (50 vs 16%, p < 0.01). This relationship also occurred in association with the type of IUGR (asymmetric p < 0.01, symmetric p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In SGA children, abnormal blood pressure values occurred more frequently than in AGA children.
Department of Children's Cardiology and Rheumatology of the 2nd Chair of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. agazamek@gmail.com.
Agata
A
Zamecznik
Department of Children's Cardiology and Rheumatology of the 2nd Chair of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Niewiadomska-Jarosik
Institute of Information Technology, Lodz University of Technology, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Wosiak
Department of Children's Cardiology and Rheumatology of the 2nd Chair of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Justyna
J
Zamojska
Department of Children's Cardiology and Rheumatology of the 2nd Chair of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Jadwiga
J
Moll
Department of Children's Cardiology and Rheumatology of the 2nd Chair of Paediatrics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Jerzy
J
Stańczyk
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors