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

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 5; p. e0126842
• Main Authors: Gomez-Roig, M Dolores, Mazarico, Edurne, Valladares, Esther, Guirado, Laura, Fernandez-Arias, Mireia, Vela, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 27.05.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Anthropometry; Antropometria; Aorta; Aorta - diagnostic imaging; Arteriosclerosis; Aterosclerosi; Atherosclerosis; Body measurements; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Case studies; Case-Control Studies; Control methods; Creixement fetal; Demographic aspects; Estudi de casos; Female; Fetal growth; Fetal Growth Retardation - diagnostic imaging; Fetal Growth Retardation - physiopathology; Fetus; Fetuses; Gestational Age; Health risk assessment; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Malalties cardiovasculars; Male; Maternal Age; Physiological aspects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Risk factors; Small for gestational age; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Veins & arteries; Spain
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126842

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. 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. 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). 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.