Children born with intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) or small for gestational age (SGA): long term growth and metabolic consequences.

Intra Uterine Growth Retardation (IUGR) refers to insufficient fetal growth diagnosed either by two direct intrauterine growth assessment (ultra-sonography) or when the fetus or newborn length (height) is less than two standard deviations (or third percentile) below the mean for gestational age (NIKLASSON et. al. 1991; DE ZEGLER 1997). When the fetus or newborn body size (wight or length) is insufficient for gestational age, that is less than 2 standard deviations below the mean (or third percentile) for gestation during the situation is referred to as Small for Gestational Age (SGA). Since both fetal weight and length (height) gains are closely related, there is much overlap between SGA and IUGR. The proportion of newborn with normal birth weight and overlap between SGA and IUGR, isolated low birth weight, isolate low birth length and combined low birth weight and length is presented in Tab. 1, according to the most recent series reported nb NIKLASSON (1991). SGA/IUGR is a public health problem, since 2.5-3.0 % of newborns are affected by definition, and 8-10 % of them do not catch up postnatally, presenting with a persistent severe height deficiency, developmental difficulties and poor outcome (UNDERWOOD 1991; SIEGEL et al. 1991; Albertson-WICKLAND et. al. 1993; LAKEMAN et al. 1994).