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Small for Gestational Age

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Perinatology

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Abstract

Small for gestational age (SGA) infants have been classically defined as having birth weight less than two standard deviations below the mean or less than the tenth percentile of a population-specific birth weight for specific gestational age. Studies often do not differentiate between small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses and fetal growth restriction, even though the two terms are not synonymous. Not all newborns that are SGA are pathologically growth restricted and, in fact, may be constitutionally small. Growth of the fetus is dependent of many factors. It includes the interplay of hormones (insulin; hormones secreted by the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands; and others). Among these, insulin-derived growth factor-I (IGF-I) is probably the most significant. IGF-1 influences amino acid and glucose transport across the placenta and plays a role in neurodevelopment of the fetus by promoting brain growth. It is the second leading cause of perinatal mortality and is responsible for 30% of stillborn infants; it is also the most common cause of premature births and intrapartum asphyxia. Long-term consequences as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia are also related to SGA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Fernandes Figueira - Fiocruz, Clinica Perinatal Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira

  2. Instituto Fernandes Figueira- Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Maria Dalva Barbosa Baker Méio

Authors
  1. Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira
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  2. Maria Dalva Barbosa Baker Méio
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Correspondence to Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Maternal and Child Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Renato Augusto Moreira de Sá

  2. Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

    Eduardo Borges da Fonseca

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Moreira, M.E.L., Méio, M.D.B.B. (2022). Small for Gestational Age. In: Moreira de Sá, R.A., Fonseca, E.B.d. (eds) Perinatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83434-0_59

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83434-0_59

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-83433-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-83434-0

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