PREDICTION OF INTRA-UTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION VIA ULTRASONICALLY MEASURED HEAD-ABDOMINAL CIRCUMFERENCE RATIOS

Abstract

The reliability of ultrasonically measured head/abdominal (H/A) ratios in detecting uteroplacental insufficiency (UPI)-related intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was examined in 47 patients. Normal H/A ratios were found in 37 (79%) fetuses. None of these infants was classified as small for gestational age on newborn pediatric evaluation. Ten fetuses (21%) had H/A ratios > +2 SD for gestational age. On this basis, UPI-related IUGR was correctly predicted in all 10 infants. The H/A ratio is a sensitive indicator of UPI-related IUGR. This technique is particularly valuable in patients referred for initial scanning after 30 wk gestation when it is difficult to distinguish accurately between true IUGR and an error in dates on the basis of biparietal diameter measurements alone.