Active clinical trials for "Fetal Growth Retardation"

This trial is a collaborative study between 4 sites worldwide. A total of 600 research subjects will be enrolled. We will investigate the validity of using 5D Limb Volume software to improve on estimated fetal weight predictions over a broad range of gestational ages. The purpose is to compare the accuracy and precision of birth weight predictions based on this new technology as compared to the current 2D birth weight prediction models.

Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are clinical manifestations of placental insufficiency. These complications affect 5-15% of pregnancies, and are responsible for up to 20% of preterm births. Women who develop PE during pregnancy also have an increased risk for cardiovascular events, both at short and long term. This justifies the need to improve diagnostic tools to identify patients at risk for these complications. PE and IUGR are multifactorial entities. Screening algorithms should thus include several parameters to achieve high detection rates. Research has mainly focused in the analysis of biophysical and biochemical parameters, and the study of the placenta itself has not been included in current diagnostic strategies. Investigators hypothesize that detection rates of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction could be improved by the study of placental characteristics in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The purpose of this study si to define morphological and epidemiological parameters and identify new symptoms in French patients with Seckel syndrome (SCKL) or microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPDII).

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine if mutations in the gene encoding the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor lead to relative insulin-like growth factor-I insensitivity and produce intrauterine growth retardation in children.

Introduction Preeclampsia (PE) and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) are two major pregnancy complications related to chronic utero-placental hypoperfusion. Three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) angiography has been used for the evaluation of utero-placental vascularisation and three vascular indices have been calculated: the vascularisation index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularisation-FI (VFI). However, several technical endpoints hinder the clinical use of 3DPD as physical characteristics and machine settings may affect 3DPD indices, and so its clinical significance is not yet clear. Objectives The primary objective is to better understand the clinical significance of 3DPD indices by evaluating the relationship between these indices and placental morphometry. Secondary objectives are (i) to determine the impact of machine settings and physical characteristics on 3DPD indices, and (ii) to evaluate physio-pathological placental vascularisation patterns. Methods and analysis This is a prospective controlled study. We expect to include 112 women: 84 with normal pregnancies and 28 with PE and/or IUGR (based on our former cohort study on 3DPD indices for PE and/or IUGR prediction (unpublished data)). Within 72 h before planned or semi-urgent caesarean section, utero-placental 3DPD images with five different machine settings will be acquired. Placentas will be collected and examined after surgery and stereological indices (volume density, surface density, length density) calculated. The 3DPD indices (VI, FI and VFI) of the placenta and adjacent myometrium will be calculated. Correlation between Doppler and morphological indices will be evaluated by Pearson or Spearman tests. Agreement between 3DPD indices and morphological indices will be assessed by Bland and Altman plots. The impact of Doppler settings and maternal characteristics on 3DPD indices will be evaluated with a multivariate linear regression model.

One of the most challenging areas currently facing obstetricians is the detection and management of pregnancies in which the growth of the fetus is poor. These fetuses have not only increased rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality, but also have higher levels of morbidity extending into adult life (Linda; Murray 2010). In developing countries including Egypt, low birth weight is a national concern and emphasized in population and health policies according to the latest WHO data published in April 2011 low Birth Weight Deaths in Egypt reached 13,587 or 3.74% of total deaths, Mortality was more frequent in LBW (31.6%) than normal birth weight (NBW) infants (2.0%). Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is defined as fetuses whose growth velocity slows down or stops completely because of inadequate oxygen and nutritional supply or utilization (Linda; Murray 2010). Low birth weight (LBW) refers to an infant with a birth weight < 2500 g, Small for gestational age (SGA) birth is defined as an estimated fetal weight (EFW) less than the 10th centile and severe SGA as an EFW less than the 3rd centile, (RCOG Green-top Guideline No.31, 2013). Ultrasound has been used as a tool for determining fetal health and a variety of sonographic parameters have been used to screen and diagnose IUGR including fetal biometry, fetal body proportions (Campbell et al., 1994), amniotic fluid volume (Owen et al., 1999), subcutaneous tissue thickness and estimated fetal weight (EFW) (Larciprete et al., 2005). IUGR is associated with changes in the body proportions as undernourished fetus directs most of its energy to maintain the growth of vital organs, such as the brain and heart, at the expense of the liver, muscle and fat and this results in decreased abdominal and thigh circumference measurements and hence theoretically increased HC/AC, FL/AC and FL/TC ratios (Colley et al., 1991). Fetal thigh circumference has a role to play in accurately measuring fetal weight when incorporated with other fetal parameters and provide a potentially straightforward method for assessing the deposition of muscle and fat in the growing fetus; there is a scope of using the FL/TC ratio in predicting IUGR (Sanyal et al., 2012). Fetal thigh circumference to femur length ratio (FL/TC) seems to be potential for use in predicting IUGR (Shripad; Varalaxmi, 2005).

Insulin resistance is common among children with low birthweight. Moreover, growth hormone treatment for ensuing short stature also causes insulin resistance. Our objective is to examine these processes. Insulin resistance has recently been linked to the accumulation of stores of fat in muscle cells which can be measured by MRI. We hypothesize that children who are short due to low birthweight have increased muscle fat stores, but that growth hormone treatment will paradoxically reverse this association. To test this hypothesis, muscle fat stores will be measured in children who are short due to low birthweight before and after receiving growth hormone therapy. Other parameters linked to insulin resistance (glucose tolerance, blood markers, and body composition) will also be assessed. This study may lead to ways to increase growth hormone safety and dose limitations.

In case of fetal weight below the 10th centile for gestational age, it is important to distinguish SGA and IUGR. SGA is defined as a fetal weight below the 10th centile. IUGR correspond to a pathologic reduction of growth velocity and it is a major determinant of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Even if SGA have long time been considered to be constitutionally small without adverse outcomes, recent evidence has demonstrated that a proportion of SGA, with normal UA Doppler, could be associated with neonatal adverse outcomes, probably related to a late-onset IUGR. Therefore, it seems essential to differentiate several categories of fetuses presenting abnormal fetal weight or intrauterine growth: fetuses SGA without any Doppler abnormalities, fetuses affected by early or late-IUGR. In case of late-IUGR, an important part of these fetuses is initially considered as PAG with a normal umbilical Doppler. In case of fetal weight below the 10th centile for gestational age, longitudinal assessment of the fetal weight and umbilical artery (UA) Doppler is recommended. In case of abnormal UA Doppler, Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Doppler is recommended to research a "brain-sparing" effect. If UA and MCA Doppler findings seem to become abnormal in the early stages of IUGR, Ductus Venosus (DV) flow abnormalities have been described as a late marker of fetal decompensation related to an acute myocardial impaired relaxation and acidemia which is a major contributor to adverse perinatal outcome and neurological. The aortic isthmus (AoI) Doppler is an indicator of the progression of fetal hemodynamic deterioration in IUGR and recent data confirm that AoI and DV abnormalities are correlated but AoI Doppler abnormalities would occur earlier than DV Doppler. AoI Doppler could identify abnormalities suggestive of right ventricular dysfunction before DV Doppler and anticipate obstetrical management. In conclusion, Doppler examination could not be reduced to UA Doppler in case of SGA and IUGR and require a global examination including MCA and probably DV and AoI Doppler. That's why fetal growth assessment should not be limited to fetal biometry and umbilical artery Doppler. Thanks to a systematic protocol for Doppler examination based on UA, MCA, DV and Aortic Isthmus (AoI) Doppler, we hope identify these hemodynamic variations in a large cohort of fetuses <10 to improve prenatal assessment of these foetus to and perinatal outcomes, reducing perinatal morbi-mortality.

Pregnancy is considered a cardiovascular (CV) stress test, and complicated pregnancies are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Moreover, it is known that often the pregnancy induced CV adaptation does not resolve completely after a short postpartum (PP) period and it is not clear whether these induced changes will resolve over a longer period of time (i.e. in the upcoming months/years after delivery). Understanding the cardiac adaptation during pregnancy and the reversal process in the postpartum period, as well as the factors that influence this these processes, may provide us not only insight in this mechanism, but may help us in identifying factors that may be target points for modification.

In this study, microplastic levels in the placenta and cord blood of pregnant women with fetal growth retardation and healthy pregnant women will be compared in placenta and cord blood samples after delivery.