Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Differential Diagnosis, Molecular Genetic Evaluation, and Implications

Endocr Rev. 2018 Dec 1;39(6):851-894. doi: 10.1210/er.2018-00083.

Abstract

Children born small for gestational age (SGA), defined as a birth weight and/or length below -2 SD score (SDS), comprise a heterogeneous group. The causes of SGA are multifactorial and include maternal lifestyle and obstetric factors, placental dysfunction, and numerous fetal (epi)genetic abnormalities. Short-term consequences of SGA include increased risks of hypothermia, polycythemia, and hypoglycemia. Although most SGA infants show catch-up growth by 2 years of age, ∼10% remain short. Short children born SGA are amenable to GH treatment, which increases their adult height by on average 1.25 SD. Add-on treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist may be considered in early pubertal children with an expected adult height below -2.5 SDS. A small birth size increases the risk of later neurodevelopmental problems and cardiometabolic diseases. GH treatment does not pose an additional risk.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dwarfism* / diagnosis
  • Dwarfism* / drug therapy
  • Dwarfism* / genetics
  • Growth Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases* / genetics
  • Infant, Small for Gestational Age*

Substances

  • Growth Hormone