Fetal growth in aneuploid conditions

• Published in: Clinical obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 35; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Author: Droste, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1992
• Subjects: Aneuploidy; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; Down Syndrome - physiopathology; Embryonic and Fetal Development - physiology; Humans; Trisomy
• ISSN: 0009-9201
• DOI: 10.1097/00003081-199203000-00017

Fetal growth failure is a significant clinical problem. Although aneuploid conditions account for only a few cases of intrauterine growth retardation, the clinical importance of these conditions is profound. Recognition of aneuploidy demands a high index of suspicion from the clinician and some knowledge of the growth patterns associated with these syndromes (Table 3). Symmetric growth retardation as a clinically recognizable entity probably does not exist. However, variations in the growth patterns in different aneuploidies may add important diagnostic clues to the evaluation of the growth-retarded fetus. In addition a better understanding of these patterns and their regulation may provide insight into the mechanisms, not only of abnormal, but perhaps more importantly, of normal fetal growth and development.