Correlative Evaluation of Abdominal Aorta (aIMT) and Carotid Arteries (cIMT) Intima Media Thickness in Small for GestationalAge (SGA) and Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) Term Newborns

Abstract

Introduction: Small for gestation newborns displays prenatal circulatory adaptations (including thickening of vessel wall) to the suboptimal intra-uterine environment. These adaptations thought to lead to an altered development of the cardiovascular system and “program” the fetus for lifelong cardiovascular morbidities. Aim: To measure and compare the Intima Media Thickness of abdominal aorta (aIMT) and Carotid Arteries (cIMT) in Smallfor-Gestational-Age (SGA) term newborns with appropriate for gestation age (AGA or normal sized) term newborns using noninvasive high resolution Ultrasonography. Materials and Methods: The aIMT and cIMT by high resolution Ultrasonography of 100 SGA and 100-AGA term newborns were measured. The mean and maximum IMT of abdominal aorta and carotid artery were calculated. The Mann-Whitney test was applied to know the distribution of variables. For univariate analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficients was used. Stepwise backward multivariate linear regression was used to establish the independent risk factors for cIMT and aIMT. Correlations were analysed by using Spearman test (Significant correlation considered at 0.01 levels). Software SPSS version 18.0 for statistical analysis was used. Results: Mean cIMT and aIMT were significantly increased in SGA term newborns (0.41±0.047 mm, 0.5±0.058 mm) than in AGA term newborns (0.35±0.032 mm, 0.45±0.041 mm). Maximum cIMT and aIMT were also significantly increased in SGA term newborns (0.45±0.05 mm, 0.58±0.05 mm) as compared to AGA term newborns (0.40±0.05 mm 0.52±0.05 mm). Both maximum and Mean aIMT and cIMT were negatively correlated (<0.001) with birth weight, length, and head circumference. Conclusion: Screening of all SGA babies is necessary, as there has been an increasing emphasis on the early identification of those at an increased risk of developing disease so that we may provide them with early preventive and treatment options, thereby arresting or delaying the onset of morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

• atherosclerosis
• cardio vascular
• high resolution ultrasound