title: Aortic intima-media thickness and aortic diameter in small for gestational age and growth restricted fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to measure aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) and aortic diameter (AD) in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses, and intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study performed between June 2011 and June 2012. Forty-nine AGA fetuses, 40 SGA fetuses, and 35 IUGR fetuses underwent concomitant measurement of aIMT and AD at a mean gestational age of 34.4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median aIMT was higher in fetuses with IUGR (0.504 mm [95%CI: 0.477-0.530 mm]), than in SGA fetuses (0.466 mm [95% CI: 0.447-0.485 mm]), and AGA fetuses (0.471 mm [95% CI: 0.454-0.488 mm]) (p = 0.023). Mean AD was significantly lower in fetuses with IUGR (4.451 mm [95% CI: 4.258-4.655 mm]), than in AGA fetuses (4.74 mm [95% CI: 4.63-4.843 mm]) (p = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Growth restricted fetuses have a thicker aortic wall than AGA and SGA fetuses, which possibly represents preclinical atherosclerosis and a predisposition to later cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; SAMID Network (Spanish Collaborative and Child Health Research Network), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gomez-Roig
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; SAMID Network (Spanish Collaborative and Child Health Research Network), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Edurne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazarico
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guirado
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; SAMID Network (Spanish Collaborative and Child Health Research Network), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal