Abnormal fetal aortic velocity waveform and intellectual function at 7 years of age

Abstract

Measurements of fetal aortic blood flow velocity and fetal growth were performed in 178 pregnancies. In 87 cases, the estimated fetal weight was > 2 SD below the gestational age-related mean of the population. Three fetuses died in utero. In 148 children (84%) an assessment of overall intellectual ability was performed at 6.5 years of age. Verbal and global IQ was lower in the group with an abnormal fetal aortic blood flow velocity waveform (mean +/- SD 96.0 +/- 17.7 and 95.9 +/- 15.7, respectively; n = 41) compared to the group with a normal waveform (102.1 +/- 12.2 and 102.9 +/- 13.2, respectively; n = 105; p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that abnormal fetal aortic velocity waveform, both independently and in combination with other factors, was a significant predictor of impaired intellectual outcome. The association found between abnormal fetal aortic velocity waveform and impaired intellectual outcome suggests that hemodynamic evaluation of the fetus has a predictive value regarding postnatal intellectual development.

Abnormal Retinal Optic Nerve Morphology in Young Adults after Intrauterine Growth Restriction

“…The blood flow velocity changes are consistent with experimental findings of redistribution of blood flow in IUGR as well as in fetal hypoxia (3,4). We previously showed that abnormal fetal blood flow in fetuses with IUGR is associated with minor neurologic dysfunction and impaired intellectual function at 7 y of age (5,6). The underlying mechanisms whereby IUGR with abnormal fetal blood flow leads to neurologic impairment are largely unknown.…”

Neurodevelopment after Fetal Growth Restriction

“…For patients delivered before that, several observational studies indicate that gestational age is related to motor, social-interactive, habituation and cognitive subscales [62,71,84]. …”

Routine ultrasound examination at 41 weeks of gestation and risk of post‐term severe adverse fetal outcome: a retrospective evaluation of two units, within the same hospital, with different guidelines

“…1 Fetuses that are IUGR are more prone to serious complications such as severe fetal distress, cerebral damage, long-term neurological sequelae, and death. [2][3][4][5] A large proportion of small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses are IUGR, and the majority of IUGR are also SGA. 1 It has been shown that antepartum identification of SGA, as compared with non-identification and the employment of a surveillance strategy, was related to a four-fold lower risk of severe adverse fetal outcomes.…”