Abstract
Background Measuring fetal abdominal circumference (AC) prenatally is an effective tool for
predicting neonatal weight and macrosomia. Data are lacking regarding the outcome
of newborn infants with prenatal diagnosis of large AC.
Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate early short-term neonatal outcome among term
singleton newborn infants with prenatal diagnosis of large AC.
Methods Retrospective data were collected on 501 term infants with prenatal diagnosis of
large AC (≥ 360 mm) and on matched controls, including information on maternal condition
and on infant perinatal complications.
Results In compare with controls, the study group had higher incidence of macrosomia (188
[37.5%] vs. 18 [3.6%], p < 0.001), hypoglycemia (48 (9.6%) vs. 25 [5%], p = 0.007), and significant morbidity (49 [9.8%] vs. 28 [5.6%], p = 0.017) but without increased incidence of congenital malformations or other perinatal
complications. Only among the macrosomic, study subgroup and their controls differences
were recorded including hypoglycemia (17.6 vs. 4.8%, p < 0.001), need for oral glucose (11.2 vs. 2.7%, p = 0.002), significant morbidity (10.1 vs. 3.7%, p = 0.024), and hospitalization in special care unit (11.7 vs. 4.3%, p = 0.012).
Conclusion Prelabor diagnosis of large AC mostly reflects the infant's high birth weight and
macrosomia with the associated perinatal complications. Large AC by itself was not
predictive of any congenital malformations or perinatal and postnatal complications.
Keywords
abdominal circumference - macrosomia - perinatal outcome
