Children born small for gestational age: differential diagnosis, molecular-genetic evaluation and implications.

Children born small for gestational age: differential diagnosis, molecular-genetic evaluation and implications. Endocr Rev. 2018 Jul 04;: Authors: Finken MJJ, van der Steen M, Smeets CCJ, Walenkamp MJE, de Bruin C, Hokken-Koelega ACS, Wit JM Abstract Children born small-for-gestational age (SGA), defined as a birth weight and/or length <-2 SDS, comprise a heterogeneous group. The causes of SGA are multifactorial and include maternal life-style and obstetric factors, placental dysfunction, and numerous fetal (epi)genetic abnormalities. Short-term consequences of SGA include increased risks of hypothermia, polycythemia, and hypoglycemia. Although the majority of SGA infants show catch-up growth by 2 years of age, approximately 10% remain short. Short children born SGA are amenable to growth hormone (GH) treatment, which increases their adult height by on average 1.25 SD. Add-on treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist may be considered in early-pubertal children with an expected adult height <-2.5 SDS. A small birth size increases the risk of later neurodevelopmental problems and cardiometabolic diseases. GH treatment does not pose an additional risk. PMID: 29982551 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Endocrine Reviews - Category: Endocrinology Tags: Endocr Rev Source Type: research