title: Metabolic monitoring of obese children born small for gestational age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The "catch-up growth" phenomenon in children born small for gestational age (SGA) has been linked to early onset obesity with the subsequent emergence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) or its components. It has been postulated that the prevalence of MetS and its components increases strongly with age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was carried out over a 5 year period (2007-2011) to determine long-term metabolic complications in obese children born with normal weight for gestational age (appropriate for gestational age: AGA) and SGA. 517 patients were qualified into the study. According to birth weight and gestational age they were first divided into SGA (107 patients--20%) and AGA (410 patients--80%) and then by age into three subgroups: prepubertary group, pubertary group and adolescents. Blood pressure, lipids and glucose were measured. Oral glucose tolerance tests (oGTT) were performed in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prepubertary patients showed no significant differences between SGA and AGA; 4.8% met the framing criteria (according to Weiss) for MetS. Pubertary patients showed a slightly increased prevalence of MetS among SGA patients 10.8%, compared to AGA patients 7.3%. MetS prevalence was significantly higher in obese adolescents born SGA 26.3% compared to AGA 15.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MetS or its components develop progressively with age. Increased prevalence of MetS in SGA patients indicates that being born SGA appears to be an additional risk factor in the development of MetS starting with puberty.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeş", Timişoara 300041, Romania; 1st Pediatric Clinic, Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Ţurcanu", Timişoara 300011, Romania. Electronic address: ramona.giurescu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stroescu
authors.affiliation: 3rd pediatric Clinic, Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Ţurcanu", Timişoara 300011, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Micle
authors.affiliation: 1st Pediatric Clinic, Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Ţurcanu", Timişoara 300011, Romania.
authors.forename: Teofana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bizerea
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeş", Timişoara 300041, Romania; 3rd pediatric Clinic, Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Ţurcanu", Timişoara 300011, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puiu
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeş", Timişoara 300041, Romania; 1st Pediatric Clinic, Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Ţurcanu", Timişoara 300011, Romania.
authors.forename: Otilia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mărginean
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babeş", Timişoara 300041, Romania; 3rd pediatric Clinic, Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Ţurcanu", Timişoara 300011, Romania.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doroş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015995:Prevalence; D011627:Puberty / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Small for gestational age