Intrauterine growth retardation at term: association between anthropometric and endocrine parameters

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the endocrine profile of the intrauterine growth retardation newborns and its association with anthropometric parameters at birth. STUDY DESIGN: This is a case-control study of 76 full term gestations, of which 31 were diagnosed as intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) confirmed at birth, and 45 as normal births. Insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), hydrocortisone, prolactin and 15 metabolic parameters were measured in maternal blood antepartum, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood at birth. RESULTS: Blood taken from the umbilical cord in the IUGR group had statistically significant lower levels of IGF-I, insulin and TSH, but higher levels of GH. In amniotic fluid and maternal blood, IUGR babies had lower levels of cortisol. The changes in GH and glucose levels in cord blood of IUGR babies were independently associated to birth weight variability (Adjusted regression coefficient-squared=0.09 and 0.17 respectively). Ponderal index (weight/length3) among IUGR babies was independently associated with metabolic changes in amniotic fluid (Adjusted regression coefficient-squared=0.35). CONCLUSIONS: The endocrine profile of IUGR fetus would be: hypoinsulinemic, hypothyrotropinemic, hypoglycemic, hypoalbuminemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypermagnesemic with lower IGF-I levels, yet higher than normal group GH levels at birth. Triglycerides in amniotic fluid; GH, Glucose and Mg changes in cord blood of IUGR babies were independently associated with birth weight variability.