Intrauterine growth restriction and pregnancy outcome [Ritardo di accrescimento intrauterino e outcome della gravidanza]

Aim. This prospective study was performed to evaluate perinatal outcome and maternal risk factors in pregnancies complicated by fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods. A total of 3 537 women pregnant with a singleton gestation were enrolled in the study: 219 of these pregnancies were complicated by fetal growth restriction (6.2%). Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon test, Kruskall-Wallis test, \u3c72 analysis of variance and ANOVA test. Statistical significance was set at P-value <0.05. Correlations were calculated by Spearman's coefficient. Results. Ethnic group, physical demanding work, maternal smoking, alcohol abuse do not seem to be associated with lower birth weight and worse Apgar score. Sonographic assessment of fetal weight obtained by Hadlock's formula underestimate real newborn's weight. The difference between estimate weight and real weight is statistically significant. Women with intrauterine growth restriction underwent caesarean sections more often than women with appropriate fetal growth selected as controls (P