Impact of Intrauterine Growth Restriction on Cognitive and Motor Development at 2 Years of Age

Abstract

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which is already known to be a risk factor for pathological intrauterine development, perinatal mortality, and morbidity, is now also assumed to cause both physical and cognitive alterations in later child development. In the current study, effects of IUGR on infantile brain function were investigated during the fetal period and in a follow-up developmental assessment during early childhood. During the fetal period, visual and auditory event-related responses (VER and AER) were recorded using fetal magnetoencephalography (fMEG). VER latencies were analyzed in 73 fetuses (14 IUGR fetuses) while AER latencies were analyzed in 66 fetuses (11 IUGR fetuses). Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID-II) were used to assess the developmental status of the infants at the age of 24 months. The Mental Development Index (MDI) was available from 66 children (8 IUGR fetuses) and the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) from 63 children (7 IUGR fetuses). Latencies to visual stimulation were more delayed in IUGR than in small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, albeit not to any significant extent (p = 0.282). The MDI in former IUGR infants was significantly lower (p = 0.044) than in former SGA and AGA infants. However, IUGR had no impact on PDI (p = 0.213). These findings support the hypothesis that IUGR may constitute a risk factor for neurodevelopmental delay. Further investigation of the possible underlying mechanisms, as well as continued long-term developmental research, is therefore necessary.

Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The ductus arteriosus (DA) of very preterm infants is less likely to close spontaneously as part of the transition to extrauterine life and, consequently, the incidence of patent DA (PDA) is inversely related to gestational age (GA) at birth (1–4). Intrauterine or fetal growth restriction (IUGR/FGR) is commonly recognized as an additional major risk factor for mortality and morbidity in very preterm infants (5–11). One of the conditions that IUGR has been associated with is PDA (12–14), but the evidence supporting this association is scarce and has not been systematically reviewed.…”

Magnetic Source Imaging and Infant MEG: Current Trends and Technical Advances

“…It is essential to point out that few MEG studies have employed a longitudinal design. Longitudinal studies [58,111] can reveal the developmental trajectory of brain signal variability and complexity from fetus [56,71,112,113,114,115,116] over the entire life span. The importance of longitudinal data cannot be overestimated [117].…”

Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The placental-fetal heart circulation is likely affected [10], and hemodynamic insufficiency poses a risk to the developing fetus. Complications such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and prematurity may have lasting developmental effects into childhood and beyond [11].…”