IUGR fetus studied by 3D and 4D sonography

It is well known that intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can lead to significant fetal or neonatal complications. A number of studies have reported a 5–27% incidence of congenital abnormalities associated with IUGR, as compared with a 0.1–4% anomaly rate in control groups of normally grown neonates. ¹ The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in IUGR infants is 4–5 times that of appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants (2% vs 0.4%); and intrauterine infection, especially cytomegalovirus, has been reported in 0.3–3.5% of IUGR infants. ¹ In addition, growth-restricted infants have up to an 8–10-fold increase in stillbirth and neonatal mortality. ¹ This, in part, is due to a higher incidence of hypoxia, asphyxia, meconium aspiration, and a generally poorer ability to tolerate labor with IUGR. ¹ Other developmental problems such as necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and neonatal encephalopathy, can also be related to IUGR. Those infants who survive the immediate perinatal period are still at risk for hypothermia, hypoglycemia, polycythemia, and other complications. ^1,2 Animal studies have also shown an increased risk for cardiovascular and renal problems later in life. ³