title: Prognostic Value of Fetal Thymus Size in Intrauterine Growth Restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the size of the fetal thymus by sonography in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and to search for a possible relationship between a small fetal thymus and adverse perinatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The transverse diameter of the fetal thymus was prospectively measured in 150 healthy and 143 IUGR fetuses between 24 and 40 weeks' gestation. The fetuses with IUGR were further divided according to normal or abnormal Doppler assessment of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries and ductus venosus. Measurements were compared with reference ranges from controls. To determine which perinatal outcomes were independently associated with a small fetal thymus, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thymus size was significantly lower in IUGR fetuses compared to controls (P < .05). Among IUGR fetuses, thymus size was significantly smaller in IUGR fetuses with abnormal Doppler flow compared to normal flow (P < .05). A small thymus in IUGR fetuses was independently associated with early delivery (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.49; P= .023), respiratory distress syndrome (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09-1.78; P= .005), early neonatal sepsis (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.11-2.42; P= .001), and a longer stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.08-1.71; P = .017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with fetal thymic involution, and a small fetal thymus is an early indicator of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.
authors: Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (A.E., C.G., C.E.T., U.S., M.O.); and Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey (N.S.G.). atalayekin@hotmail.com.
authors: Atalay
authors: A
authors: Ekin
authors: Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (A.E., C.G., C.E.T., U.S., M.O.); and Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey (N.S.G.).
authors: Cenk
authors: C
authors: Gezer
authors: Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (A.E., C.G., C.E.T., U.S., M.O.); and Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey (N.S.G.).
authors: Cuneyt Eftal
authors: CE
authors: Taner
authors: Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (A.E., C.G., C.E.T., U.S., M.O.); and Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey (N.S.G.).
authors: Ulas
authors: U
authors: Solmaz
authors: Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (A.E., C.G., C.E.T., U.S., M.O.); and Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey (N.S.G.).
authors: Naciye Sinem
authors: NS
authors: Gezer
authors: Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (A.E., C.G., C.E.T., U.S., M.O.); and Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey (N.S.G.).
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Ozeren
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: fetal sonography; intrauterine growth restriction; obstetric ultrasound; prenatal diagnosis; thymus gland