Head circumference and long-term outcome in small-for-gestational age infants

Objectives: To assess risk factors for the growth and development of small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants whose birth weight was less than the 10^th percentile. Patients and methods: SGA infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from 1995 to 1998 were enrolled in the study. Fifty-six SGA infants, having no chromosomal abnormalities, inherited diseases, TORCH infections, major anomaly and/or multiple birth, were divided into 34 asymmetrical and 22 symmetrical SGA infants by ≥ or <10 ^th percentile head circumference (HC) at birth. The physical growth including HC, and the developmental quotient (DQ) and intelligent quotient (IQ) scores were evaluated up to 6 years of age. Results: Symmetrical SGA infants had lower levels of weight, height and HC, but not of total DQ at 3 years or IQ scores at 6 years of age than asymmetrical SGA infants. The 21 SGA infants who had a HC less than the 10^th percentile at 1 year of age (non-catch-up group) showed lower total DQ (mean 96 vs. 105) and IQ (82 vs. 102) scores than 34 SGA infants who had not (catch-up group). Conclusions: These results suggested that psychomotor development of SGA infants depended on the HC at 1 year of age rather than that at birth.