What are Some of the Causes of SGA?

Discussion Intrauterine growth retardation or fetal growth retardation is due to a pathological process that causes decelerated fetal growth velocity. Small-for-gestational age (SGA) is an infant with growth parameters below the normal range for gestational age. More commonly, SGA is defined as a birth weight < 10% for gestational age. This may be due a pathological or non-pathological process (e.g. constitutionally small fetus). Using these standards, remember that 10% of all infants will be < 10% for weight, and they do not necessarily have an underlying problem and infants who are constitutionally small do not have increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. SGA and IUGR are not synonymous. IUGR always refers to a pathological process, whereas SGA may or may not be a pathological process but just a small infant. SGA infants classically appear small with thin, loose skin, little subcutaneous fat and decreased muscle mass. The umbilical cord is thin. The face has a shrunken or “wizened” appearance often. Therefore, the gestational age at birth is best determined by the neurological assessment than by the physical appearance. Symmetric SGA usually reflects a fetal problem and usually occurs in the first trimester with overall growth restriction. The long-term prognosis is not as good as asymmetric SGA reflecting an increased risk underlying disease processes such as a genetic abnormality. Constitutionally small infants usually have symmetric SGA. Asymme...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news