Recent advances in management of fetal growth restriction.

Kim, Young Han; Kwak, Dong Wook

Search: Korean J Obstet Gynecol Search

CLOSE

Review

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008;51(10):1073-1084.
Published online October 1, 2008.

Recent advances in management of fetal growth restriction.

Young Han Kim, Dong Wook Kwak

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yhkim522@yuhs.ac

Abstract

Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) is associated with poor perinatal outcomes. The term SGA is descriptive and means that the fetal size and weight at birth are less than expected (in general, 10th percentile using standard curves for gestational age) regardless of the cause. It was estimated that about 50~70% of fetuses born weighing less than the 10th percentile for gestational age are constitutionally small, with fetal growth appropriate for parental size and ethnicity; these are usually associated with normal placental function and have a normal outcome. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) describes a decrease in the fetal growth rate that prevents an infant from obtaining the complete genetic growth potential. It is common with placental dysfunction occurring in about 3% of pregnancies despite advances in obstetric care. In human pregnancies, placental insufficiency is the leading cause of FGR and is usually due to poor utero-placental blood flow and placental infarcts. The reduction of placental supply of nutrients to the fetus has been associated with several adaptive changes taking place in both the placenta and fetus. Adaptive changes can be followed by pathology leading to fetal death, and therefore staging of the disease is fundamental to timing delivery. Thus, it is responsible for the obstetricians to distinguish SGA from intrauterine growth restriction, correct the causes if possible, and if not, accurately stage the disease progress so as to deliver at the most suitable time. In this review, the management of fetal growth restrictions is summarized based on the diagnosis, etiologic factors, antenatal surveillance, and their possible therapeutic approaches.

Key Words: Small for gestational age, Fetal growth restriction, Placental insufficiency

TOOLS

Full text via DOI
Download Citation

Share :

METRICS

916 View
18 Download

Related articles in Obstet Gynecol Sci

A study on fetal growth for gestational age.1991 February;34(2)

The operative management of 8 cases of congenital absence of the vagina.1991 October;34(10)

Conservative management of cervical pregnancy.1993 July;36(7)

A case of management of fetal pleural effusion with pleuroamniotic shunt.1993 September;36(9)

The BRCA1 Expression in Placenta of Normal and Fetal Growth Restriction.1999 June;42(6)

ABOUT

ARTICLE & TOPICS

Article category

Browse all articles >

Topics

Browse all articles >

BROWSE ARTICLES

POLICY

FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial Office: 4th Floor, 36 Gangnam-daero 132-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06044, Korea.
Tel: +82-2-2266-7238 Fax: +82-2-3445-2440 E-mail: journal@ogscience.org