Intrauterine growth restriction

Biology

Fetal weight

Growth restriction

Fetal growth

Gestation

Appropriate for gestational age

Fetus

Birth weight

Genetics

Pediatrics

Gestational age

Obstetrics

Medicine

Small for gestational age

Pregnancy

Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) describes a fetus' inability to attain adequate weight gain based on genetic potential and gestational age and is the second most common cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality after prematurity. Infants who have suffered fetal growth restriction are at the greatest risks for short- and long-term complications. This article specifically details the neurologic and cardiometabolic sequalae associated with fetal growth restriction, as well as the purported mechanisms that underlie their pathogenesis. We end with a brief discussion about further work that is needed to gain a more complete understanding of fetal growth restriction.

Short- and Long-Term Implications of Small for Gestational Age