Comparison in physical and neurological development between two types of children born small for gestational age

Abstract

Almost 3% of newborns are diagnosed as small for gestational age(SGA)worldwide.Born SGA is one of the important causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality, and is also associated with metabolic diseases in adulthood.Low birth weight by itself is insufficient to characterize growth restriction, as it does not include information about the neonate’s body proportionality.Depending on the origin, timing and severity of insult, small for gestational age infants are classified into two types: proportionate or symmetric growth restriction(SGR)and disproportionate or asymmetric growth restriction(AGR). There may be differences in physical and neurological development of these two types.This study compares three classification indexes, and to find differences in postnatal growth of these two types. Key words: Small for gestational age; Symmetric growth restriction; Asymmetric growth restriction; Physical development; Neurological development