Ultrasound/Imaging
Poster Session 2
Anne-Laurence Landry, BSc (she/her/hers)
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Quebec City, QC, Canada
Louise Ghesquiere, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Quebec, QC, Canada
Paul Guerby, MD, PhD (he/him/his)
Head of Obstetrics Department
Hopital Paule de Viguier, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse III University
Toulouse, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Emmanuel Bujold, MD, MSc
Professor
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Quebec, QC, Canada
It is regularly difficult to determine whether the estimated low weight of a fetus is of constitutional origin or secondary to placental dysfunction or other pregnancy problems. A better understanding of the factors associated with limited growth of constitutional origin could help improve the interpretation and management of small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses.
Study Design:
We carried out a secondary analysis of a prospective study that recruited nulliparous pregnant women in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and followed them through to birth. We assessed the statistical correlation between newborn weight and several factors that may contribute to fetal growth, including maternal and paternal weight and BMI, maternal age, their respective birth weights, blood biomarkers (PAPP-A, PlGF) measured in the 1st trimester, and uterine Doppler. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine significant variables after adjustments.
Results:
Among 1766 women recruited, we obtained complete data for 1703 participants. We found a positive and significant correlation between birth weight and the following variables: mother's weight and height, father's weight and height, mother's birth weight, father's birth weight, PlGF and PAPP-A. We found a significant negative correlation with the following variables: maternal age and 1st trimester uterine artery pulsatility index. After adjustment for confounding variables, 4 variables emerged as determinants of birth weight prediction: mother's birth weight (p< 0.001), mother's height (p< 0.001), PlGF level in the 1st trimester of pregnancy (p< 0.001), and maternal age (p=0.03).
Conclusion:
The mother's birth weight and maternal height have an important influence on the birth weight of a newborn, while PlGF in the 1st trimester seems to be the early placental marker with the greatest impact. These factors should be considered when interpreting fetal weight estimates, particularly in cases of SGA.