Fetal growth restriction Health Dictionary

A product of the anterior part of the PITUITARY GLAND that promotes normal growth and development in the body by changing the chemical activity in the cells. The hormone activates protein production in the muscle cells as well as the release of energy from the metabolism of fats. Its release is controlled by the contrasting actions of growth-hormone releasing factor and somatostatin. If the body produces too much growth hormone before puberty GIGANTISM results; in adulthood the result is ACROMEGALY. Lack of growth hormone in children retards growth.

For many years growth hormone was extracted from human corpses and very rarely this caused CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD) in the recipients. The hormone is now genetically engineered, so safe.... growth hormone

A procedure performed during a mother’s labour in which a blood sample is taken from a vein in the scalp of the FETUS. This enables tests to be performed that indicate whether the fetus is, for example, suffering from a shortage of oxygen (HYPOXIA). If so, the obstetrician will usually accelerate the baby’s birth.... fetal blood sampling

A procedure in which cells – for example, from the pancreas – are taken from an aborted FETUS and then transplanted into the malfunctioning organ (pancreas) of an individual with a disorder of that organ (in this case, diabetes). The cells from the fetus are intended to take over the function of the host’s diseased or damaged cells. Fetal brain cells have also been transplanted into brains of people suffering from PARKINSONISM. These treatments are at an experimental stage.... fetal transplant

A popular term applied to any new formation in any part of the body. (See CANCER; CYSTS; GANGLION; TUMOUR.) For growth of children, see WEIGHT AND HEIGHT.... growth

An endonuclease ENZYME, extracted from BACTERIA, that is used to cut DNA into short segments – a process essential in GENETIC ENGINEERING.... restriction enzyme

Any of various chemicals involved in stimulating new cell growth and maintenance.

Some growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, which stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, are important in the growth and spread of cancers.... growth factor

A disorder of newborn infants that is caused by the toxic effects on the growing FETUS of excessive amounts of alcohol taken by the mother. Low birth-weight and retarded growth are the main consequences, but affected babies may have hand and facial deformities and are sometimes mentally retarded.... fetal alcohol syndrome

Blood circulation in the fetus is different from the normal circulation after birth (see circulatory system). The fetus neither breathes nor eats. Therefore, oxygen and nutrients are obtained and waste products such as carbon dioxide are removed via the placenta. Fetal blood reaches the placenta through blood vessels in the umbilical cord. The maternal and fetal circulations are separated by a thin membrane in the placenta, which allows the exchange of nutrients and waste products.

The other fundamental difference in circulation is that most blood bypasses the lungs in the fetus through 2 special channels in the fetal heart.

Blood passes from the right atrium of the heart to the left atrium through the foramen ovale.

Another channel, known as the ductus arteriosus, allows blood to pass from the pulmonary artery to the aorta.

Both channels normally close after birth.

In rare cases, they fail to close, causing a congenital heart disorder (see heart disease, congenital).... fetal circulation

The physical stress experienced by a fetus during labour as a result of its not receiving enough oxygen. During a contraction, the uterus tightens and reduces the oxygen supply from the placenta to the fetus. If, in addition, there are problems, such as pressure on the umbilical cord or the mother’s losing blood, there may be an inadequate amount of oxygen reaching the fetus.

Fetal distress may cause the baby’s heart-rate to slow or to fail to show normal variability, which can be recorded on a cardiotocograph (see fetal heart monitoring). Acidosis (high acidity in the body), which can be detected in a sample of blood taken from the scalp, indicates that the oxygen supply to the fetus is inadequate. Signs of meconium in the amniotic fluid can also be an indication of fetal distress.

Fetal distress sometimes occurs as a temporary episode, but, if acidosis is severe, the distressed fetus may need to be delivered promptly by caesarean section, forceps delivery, or vacuum extraction. (See also childbirth.)... fetal distress

Poor growth in a fetus, usually resulting from a failure of the placenta to provide adequate nutrients (often related to pre-eclampsia) or sometimes from a fetal defect. Severe maternal disease, such as chronic kidney failure, can reduce fetal growth. Fetal problems such as an intrauterine infection or genetic disorder can also impair growth. Smoking during pregnancy may reduce fetal growth and birth weight.

Intrauterine growth retardation may be suspected on antenatal examination;... intrauterine growth retardation

a group of *growth factors that promote new bone formation. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP), a naturally occurring substance that induces *osteoblast formation, has been genetically synthesized to form bone morphogenetic protein, which stimulates new bone formation and assists with fracture healing. Other bone growth factors include a type of transforming growth factor (TGF?) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), which encourage collagen formation.... bone growth factors

(EGFR) a protein on the surface of cells (see receptor) that binds with epidermal *growth factor and is therefore involved in cell division. EGFR is expressed at increased levels in numerous tumours, particularly of the head and neck, and in colorectal cancer, in which it can be a target for antibody therapy with *cetuximab. *Tyrosine kinase inhibitors acting specifically on the EGFR include gefitinib and erlotinib in lung and pancreatic cancer.... epidermal growth factor receptor

The use of an instrument to record and/or listen to an unborn baby’s heartbeat during pregnancy and labour. Monitoring is carried out at intervals throughout pregnancy if tests indicate that the placenta is not functioning normally or if the baby’s growth is slow. During labour, monitoring can detect fetal distress, in which oxygen deprivation causes abnormality in the fetal heart-rate.

The simplest form of fetal heart monitoring involves the use of a special fetal stethoscope. Cardiotocography, a more sophisticated electronic version, makes a continuous paper recording of the heartbeat together with a recording of the uterine contractions. The heartbeat is picked up either externally by an ultrasound transducer strapped to the mother’s abdomen or, as an alternative during labour, internally by an electrode attached to the baby’s scalp that passes through the vagina and cervix.... fetal heart monitoring

The increase in height and weight as a child develops. The period of most rapid growth occurs before birth. After birth, although growth is still rapid in the first few years of life, especially in the first year, the rate of

growth steadily decreases. Puberty marks another major period of growth, which continues until adult height and weight are reached, usually at about age 16–17 in girls and 19–21 in boys.

Body shape changes during childhood because different areas grow at different rates. For example, at birth, the head is already about three quarters of its adult size; it grows to almost full size during the first year. Thereafter, it becomes proportionately smaller because the body grows at a much faster rate.

Growth can be influenced by heredity and by environmental factors such as nutrition and general health. Hormones also play an important role, particularly growth hormone, thyroid hormones, and, at puberty, the sex hormones.

A chronic illness, such as cystic fibrosis, may retard growth. Even a minor illness can slow growth briefly, although the growth rate usually catches up when the child recovers. In some cases, slow growth may be the only sign that a child is ill or malnourished, in which case it is known as failure to thrive. However, short stature does not necessarily indicate poor health. Abnormally rapid growth is rare. Usually, it is a familial trait, but it may occasionally indicate an underlying disorder, such as a pituitary gland tumour causing gigantism. (See also age; child development.)... growth, childhood

(FASD, fetal alcohol syndrome, FAS) a condition of newborn babies that results from the toxic effects on the fetus of maternal alcohol abuse. Babies have a low birth weight and growth is retarded. They have a small head (*microcephaly), low-set ears, eye, nose, lip, and nail abnormalities, and disturbances of behaviour and intellect. The greater the alcohol abuse, the more severe the fetal manifestations.... fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

a graph, customized to a pregnant woman’s height, weight, and other factors, that plots *fundal height and estimated fetal weight on ultrasound against weeks of gestation. The graph, which shows centile lines (see centile chart), improves prediction of a baby who is *small for gestational age.... fetal growth chart

(fetal graft) the introduction of an ovum, fertilized in vitro and developed to the *blastocyst stage, into the uterus of a postmenopausal woman in order that she may become pregnant. Before this procedure, the woman’s uterus must be prepared, by hormone therapy, to receive and nurture the blastocyst. Hormone treatment is continued throughout the pregnancy.... fetal implant

an electrical wire set into a sharp spiral metal tip and encased in a plastic sheath. It is attached to the fetal scalp for direct measurement of fetal heart rate by electrical activity.... fetal scalp electrode

see physis.... growth plate

death of a fetus in the uterus after 24 weeks of gestation. See stillbirth.... intrauterine fetal death

(IUGR, fetal growth restriction) failure of a fetus to achieve its growth potential, resulting in the birth of a baby whose birth weight is abnormally low in relation to its gestational age (see small for gestational age). Causes include *uteroplacental insufficiency, maternal disease (e.g. infection, malnutrition, high blood pressure, smoking, and alcoholism), poor socioeconomic conditions, multiple pregnancy (e.g. twins), and fetal disease or chromosomal abnormalities. It may be associated with *preterm birth.... intrauterine growth restriction

(NGF) a protein (see growth factor), consisting of two polypeptide chains, that is required for the development and longevity of some neurons, including those in the sympathetic nervous system and some central nervous system and sensory neurons. Nerve growth factor is necessary for axon growth and also for initiating new neuronal connections with other cells. The role of NGFs in preventing the degeneration of brain cells is being explored in research into Alzheimer’s disease.... nerve growth factor

(PDGF) see growth factor.... platelet-derived growth factor

(TGF) a protein – a *cytokine – that controls growth, proliferation, and other functions in most cells. It plays a role in asthma and other respiratory diseases and is also involved in diseases elsewhere in the body. There are two classes: TGF-? and TGF-?.... transforming growth factor

(VEGF) a *growth factor made by both normal cells and their abnormal or malignant counterparts to stimulate new blood vessel formation (see angiogenesis). It can be targeted by a family of drugs known as *angiogenesis inhibitors, which include *bevacizumab.... vascular endothelial growth factor