Intrauterine growth restriction from screening to diagnosis: the role of ultrasound

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition observable, according to the modern criteria, in about 15% of pregnancies. This situation can be associated with many adverse fetal factors of which the most important is represented by hypoxemia, which occurs in about 30% of IUGR cases. For a long time, IUGR has been defined on the basis of the birth weight, but, after the introduction of obstetric ultrasound in clinical practice, it has become possible to observe the growth restriction in utero and, as a consequence, it has been recognized that being small for date is not synonymous of IUGR In fact, fetuses undergoing restriction of growth when also having a birth weight over the 10th centile are affected by hypoxemia and undergo intrauterine demise with increased frequency. By using fetal biometry, it is possible to monitor accurately the characteristics of the growth which must not be confused with weight or size. Doppler technology has also been shown to provide the possibility of evaluating fetoplacental hemodynamics, distinguishing between fetuses affected by hypoxemia and those who are unaffected, allowing improvements in management and outcome. Since the crucial point is therefore represented by early recognition of IUGR, the controversial problem of screening is discussed.