Aortic intima-media thickness and aortic diameter in small for gestational age and growth restricted fetuses

PLoS One. 2015 May 27;10(5):e0126842. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126842. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to measure aortic intima-media thickness (aIMT) and aortic diameter (AD) in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses, and intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses.

Methods: Case-control study performed between June 2011 and June 2012. Forty-nine AGA fetuses, 40 SGA fetuses, and 35 IUGR fetuses underwent concomitant measurement of aIMT and AD at a mean gestational age of 34.4 weeks.

Results: Median aIMT was higher in fetuses with IUGR (0.504 mm [95%CI: 0.477-0.530 mm]), than in SGA fetuses (0.466 mm [95% CI: 0.447-0.485 mm]), and AGA fetuses (0.471 mm [95% CI: 0.454-0.488 mm]) (p = 0.023). Mean AD was significantly lower in fetuses with IUGR (4.451 mm [95% CI: 4.258-4.655 mm]), than in AGA fetuses (4.74 mm [95% CI: 4.63-4.843 mm]) (p = 0.028).

Conclusions: Growth restricted fetuses have a thicker aortic wall than AGA and SGA fetuses, which possibly represents preclinical atherosclerosis and a predisposition to later cardiovascular disease.

Publication types

  • Clinical Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aorta / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Intima-Media Thickness*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / physiopathology
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Small for Gestational Age*
  • Male
  • Maternal Age
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Grants and funding

The authors are thankful for an internship grant awarded by the Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital (AFR00028), and for the methodological and statistical support provided by the Sant Joan de Déu Research Foundation, and Spanish Collaborative Maternal and Child Heatlh Research Network. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.