Short Stature - Most Common Complication in Children Born Small for Gestational Age (SGA) - Our Experiences

Background: Children born with low birth parameters or small for gestational age (SGA) might had influence in prevalence and outcome in associated conditions or congenital ano-malies which might lead to chronic diseases in adulthood.

Objective: Growth failure and short adult height are most common expected complications in children born small for gestation age.

Methods: Clinical birth and anthropometric data were investigated in 100 SGA born children and compared with children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). An analyzed data were taken during patient`s first visit in the study. Auxology parameters were estimated with precise equipment specialized for pediatric population. We confirmed certain diseases and related conditions by applying an appropriate diagnostic protocols and followed with an adequate treatment.

Results: A 100 SGA born children, 40 boys and 60 girls, were born with mean BW (-2.51 SDS) and BL (-1.46 SDS) in 39.25 GW. An analyzed data of our SGA patients revealed: mostly of them, 65/100 remained short (-2.87 SDS), but 35/100 caught up growth (0.20 SDS), in 7/100 children were diagnosed congenital anomalies of kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT), 4/100 had cystic fibrosis (CF), 4/100 children were obese, but two of them had hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, 3/100 girls manifested signs of precocious puberty, and 1 patient developed psychosomatic impairment and one girl had autoimmune thyroid disease.

Conclusions: Herein we presented several associated conditions in our cohort of 100 SGA born children from Macedonia. Mostly of them, 65% did not achieved catch up growth after 2nd year and remained short.

Key words: small for gestational age, catch up growth, short stature, associated conditions and congenital anomalies