scholarly journals Early Maternal Thyroid Function During Gestation Is Associated With Fetal Growth, Particularly in Male Newborns

2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 1059-1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja G. M. Vrijkotte ◽  
E. Jessica Hrudey ◽  
Marcel B. Twickler

Abstract Background: Intrauterine growth patterns are influenced by maternal thyroid function during gestation and by fetal sex. It is unknown, however, whether the relationships between maternal thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels in early pregnancy and fetal growth outcomes are modified by fetal sex. Design: Data were obtained from a community-based cohort study of pregnant women living in Amsterdam (Amsterdam Born Children and Their Development study). TSH and fT4 levels were determined during the first prenatal screening at median 13 weeks (interquartile range, 12 to 14). Women with live-born singletons and no overt thyroid dysfunction were included (N = 3988). Associations between these maternal hormones and birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) were analyzed separately for each sex. Results: After adjustments, 1 pmol/L increase in maternal fT4 levels was associated with a reduction in birth weight of 33.7 g (P < 0.001) in male newborns and 16.1 g (P < 0.05) in female newborns. Increased maternal fT4 was not associated with increased odds for SGA, but was associated with a decreased odds for LGA in boys [per 1 pmol/L; odds ratio (OR), 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69 to 0.90]. Maternal subclinical hypothyroidism in early pregnancy (TSH > 2.5 mU/L, 7.3%) was associated with increased odds for LGA in male newborns (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.22 to 3.11). Conclusion: Maternal fT4 in early pregnancy was observed to be inversely associated with birth weight, with a stronger relationship in males. Male infants also had increased odds for LGA in mothers with subclinical hypothyroidism. Sexual dimorphism appears to be present in the relationship between maternal thyroid metabolism and fetal intrauterine growth, with stronger associations in male infants.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Kramer ◽  
Marielle Olivier ◽  
Frances H. McLean ◽  
Geoffrey E. Dougherty ◽  
Diana M. Willis ◽  
...  

Previous studies of fetal growth and body proportionality have been based on error-prone gestational age estimates and on inappropriate comparisons of infants with dissimilar birth weights. Based on a cohort of 8719 infants with validated (by early ultrasonography) gestational ages and indexes of body proportionality standardized for birth weight, potential maternal and fetal determinants of fetal growth and proportionality were assessed. Maternal history of previous low birth weight infants, pregnancy-related hypertension (particularly if severe), diabetes, prepregnancy weight, net gestational weight gain, cigarette smoking, height, parity, and fetal sex were all significantly associated with fetal growth in the expected directions. Consistent with previous reports, maternal age, marital status, and onset or total amount of prenatal care had no significant independent effects. Fetal growth ratio (relative weight for gestational age), pregnancy-related hypertension, fetal sex, and maternal height were the only significant determinants of proportionality. Infants who were growth-retarded, those with taller mothers, those whose mothers had severe pregnancy-related hypertension, and males tended to be longer and thinner and had larger heads for their weight, although these variables explained only a small fraction of the variance in the proportionality measures. Among infants with intrauterine growth retardation, gestational age was not independently associated with proportionality (in particular, late term and postterm infants did not tend to be more disproportional), a finding that does not support the hypothesis that earlier onset of growth retardation leads to more proportional growth retardation. The results raise serious questions about previous studies of proportionality, particularly those suggesting a nutritional etiology for proportional intrauterine growth retardation. They also emphasize the importance of controlling for degree of growth retardation, maternal stature, and pregnancy-related hypertension in evaluating the prognostic consequences of proportionality for mortality, morbidity, and functional performance.


2007 ◽  
Vol 92 (7) ◽  
pp. 2758-2763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikke Beck Jensen ◽  
Signe Vielwerth ◽  
Torben Larsen ◽  
Gorm Greisen ◽  
Henrik Leffers ◽  
...  

Abstract Context: A common polymorphism in the GH receptor (GHR) gene has been linked to increased growth response in GH-treated patients. No former study has focused on the association to prenatal growth. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the d3-GHR isoforms and spontaneous pre- and postnatal growth. Design: A prospective study was conducted on third-trimester fetal growth velocity (FGV), birth weight, birth length, and postnatal growth. Setting: The study was conducted at Copenhagen University Hospital. Participants: A total of 115 healthy adolescents were divided into those born small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age with or without intrauterine growth restriction. Main Outcome Measures: FGV was measured by serial ultrasonography, birth weight, birth length, and adolescent height. Isoforms of the d3-GHR gene (fl/fl, d3/fl, and d3/d3) were determined. Results: The prevalence of the d3-GHR isoforms was 50% but differed among the groups (P = 0.006), with a high prevalence (88%) in the group born SGA with verified intrauterine growth restriction. The d3-GRH allele were associated with decreased third-trimester FGV (P = 0.05) in SGA subjects. In the entire cohort, carriers of the d3-GHR allele had a significantly increased height (−0.10 vs. 0.34 sd score; P = 0.017) and change in height from birth to adolescence compared with carriers of the full-length GHR allele (0.57 vs. −0.02 sd score; P = 0.005). Conclusions: This study showed an increased spontaneous postnatal growth velocity in the carriers of the d3-GHR allele. Interestingly, we found the opposite effect on prenatal growth in the SGA group, with a decreased FGV in carriers of the d3-GHR allele.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-558
Author(s):  
J. Urrusti ◽  
P. Yoshida ◽  
L. Velasco ◽  
S. Frenk ◽  
A. Rosado ◽  
...  

Intrauterine growth was assessed in a series of 128 cases. Thirty-six infants were small for gestational age, and showed the usual signs of intrauterine growth retardation (IUM). The head circumference of these infants was small, with reference to normal term babies (FT) and comparable to premature infants, appropriately sized for a gestational age (ACA) five weeks less than that of the IUM's. There were 12 neonatal deaths, three among IUM infants within 24 hours and nine in the low birth weight AGA group within 72 hours. The mothers of these three groups of infants were similar with respect to age, weight, height, nutritional patterns, and prior pregnancy histories.


2007 ◽  
Vol 157 (5) ◽  
pp. 605-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Verkauskiene ◽  
J Beltrand ◽  
O Claris ◽  
D Chevenne ◽  
S Deghmoun ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundFetal growth restriction (FGR) has been related to several health risks, which have been generally identified in small-for-gestational age (SGA) individuals.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of FGR on body composition and hormonal status in infants born either small- or appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA).MethodsFetal growth was assessed by ultrasound every 4 weeks from mid-gestation to birth in 248 high-risk pregnancies for SGA. Fetal growth velocity was calculated as change in the estimated fetal weight percentiles and FGR defined as its reduction by more than 20 percentiles from 22 gestational weeks to birth. Impact of FGR on body composition, cord insulin, IGF-I, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and cortisol concentrations was assessed in SGA and AGA newborns.ResultsGrowth-retarded AGA infants showed significantly reduced birth weight, ponderal index, percentage of fat mass, and bone mineral density when compared with AGA newborns with stable intrauterine growth. Cord IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were significantly decreased in growth-retarded infants in both SGA and AGA groups. Cord insulin concentration was significantly lower and cord cortisol significantly higher in AGA infants with FGR versus AGA newborns with stable intrauterine growth.After adjustment for gestational age and gender, birth weight was directly related to fetal growth velocity and cord IGF-I concentration. The variation in infant's adiposity was best explained by fetal growth velocity and cord insulin concentration.ConclusionsFGR affects body composition and hormonal parameters in newborns with birth weight within the normal range, suggesting these individuals could be at similar metabolic risks as SGA.


1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Beiguelman ◽  
Gloria M.D.D. Colletto ◽  
Carla Franchi-Pinto ◽  
Henrique Krieger

Distributions of birth weights of twins and singletons born at three southeastern Brazilian hospitals were compared after adjustment for gestational age, its quadratic and cubic terms, sex, type of pregnancy, as well as their interactions. The pattern of twin fetal growth rate was retarded in comparison to that of singletons, regardless of the socioeconomic level of the examined population, but the gestational age at which this retardation started seems to be correlated to the income of the mothers. In all cases, after 28 weeks of gestation, female fetal growth was slightly but consistently lower than that of males.


2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (12) ◽  
pp. 5853-5863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Zhang ◽  
Xi Yang ◽  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Fei Guo ◽  
Shuai Yang ◽  
...  

AbstractContextPrevious studies suggest that maternal thyroid function affects fetal growth, but the association between combined thyroid hormones from early to late pregnancy and newborn birth weight remains unknown.ObjectiveTo explore the association of maternal thyroid function during early and late pregnancy with birth weight.DesignA large prospective cohort study of a Chinese population.SettingThis study recruited pregnant women who underwent first-trimester prenatal screenings at the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital between January 2013 and December 2016.ParticipantsThis study enrolled 46,186 mothers in whom TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), T3, and thyroid peroxidase antibody concentrations were measured in the first and third trimesters and in whom data on birth weight were available.Main Outcome MeasuresBirth weight, small for gestational age, large for gestational age (LGA).ResultsA higher TSH or FT4 concentration, or a lower T3 concentration, during the first or third trimester was associated with a lower birth weight. The lowest percentiles of maternal FT4 (FT4 < 2.5th percentile) in both trimesters were associated with a 0.34-SD higher birth weight. The effect estimates were greater in those in the first trimester (0.23 SD) or in the third trimester (0.17 SD). The association of maternal TSH and FT4 with birth weight differed according to fetal sex.ConclusionsPersistently low FT4 concentrations throughout pregnancy were associated with higher birth weight and an increased risk of LGA. Based on these findings, we recommend monitoring mildly altered concentrations of thyroid hormone throughout pregnancy.


2018 ◽  
pp. 184-195
Author(s):  
Minh Son Pham ◽  
Vu Quoc Huy Nguyen ◽  
Dinh Vinh Tran

Small for gestational age (SGA) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) is difficult to define exactly. In this pregnancy condition, the fetus does not reach its biological growth potential as a consequence of impaired placental function, which may be because of a variety of factors. Fetuses with FGR are at risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality, and poor long-term health outcomes, such as impaired neurological and cognitive development, and cardiovascular and endocrine diseases in adulthood. At present no gold standard for the diagnosis of SGA/FGR exists. The first aim of this review is to: summarize areas of consensus and controversy between recently published national guidelines on small for gestational age or fetal growth restriction; highlight any recent evidence that should be incorporated into existing guidelines. Another aim to summary a number of interventions which are being developed or coming through to clinical trial in an attempt to improve fetal growth in placental insufficiency. Key words: fetal growth restriction (FGR), Small for gestational age (SGA)


1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 203-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A Fay ◽  
David A Ellwood

Originally all low birthweight infants were considered to be premature. When prematurity was redefined in terms of gestational age (SGA) and not preterm. With the large scale collection of obstetric data the distributions of birthweight at different gestational ages were described and from these, infants who were SGA could be defined. SGA became synonymous with terms such as growth retardation, but it soon became appearent that the two were not necessarily interchangeable. Scott and Usher found that it was the degree of soft tissue wasting rather than birthweight that related to poor perinatal outcome. Miller and Hassanein stated that: “birthweight by itself is not a valid measure of fetal growth impairment”. They used Rorher’s Ponderal Index (weight (g) × 100/length (cm)) to diagnose the malnourished or excessively wasted infants with reduced soft tissue mass. Most studies of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) still use low birthweight for gestational age centile as their only definition of IUGR or only study infants who have a low birthweight. Altman and Hytten expressed disquiet about this definition and stated: “There is now an urgent need to establish true measures of fetal growth from which deviations indicating genuine growth retardation can be derived” and that “it is particularly important that some reliable measures of outcome should be established”. In large series of term deliveries published recently, two groups of IUGR infants with different growth patterens have been identified. These studies confirm that birthweight alone is inadequate to define the different types of IUGR. They established that low Ponderal Index (PI) is a measure of IUGR associated with an increased incidence of perinatal problems and that it is time to re-evaluate IUGR in terms of the different types of aberrant fetal growth.


2007 ◽  
Vol 167 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Sun ◽  
M. Vestergaard ◽  
C. B. Pedersen ◽  
J. Christensen ◽  
O. Basso ◽  
...  

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