ABSTRACT
Background: Intrauterine growth retardation, associated to hypertensive disease of pregnancy, is responsible for a higher perinatal mortality and morbidity. Aim: To assess obstetrical, perinatal and neonatal features of intrauterine growth retardation associated to hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Patients and methods: One hundred thirty seven newborns with intrauterine growth retardation, whose mothers had hypertensive disease of pregnancy, were compared to 165 similar newborns but whose mothers did not have the disease. Results: The incidence of intrauterine growth retardation associated to hypertensive disease of pregnancy was 45.4 percent. Maternal obesity at the start and end of pregnancy, a pregestational weight over 65 kg and a weight increment of more than 20 kg during pregnancy were risk factors for hypertensive disease of pregnancy with relative risks of 1.76, 1.62, 1.62 and 2.09 respectively. Relative risks for cesarean section and prematurity were also higher among women with hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Intrauterine growth retardation associated to maternal hypertension was symmetrical and severe in 37.9 percent of newborns. All seven neonatal deaths occurred in newborns with severe retardation. Conclusions: Neonatal and perinatal morbidity and mortality are higher in newborns with intrauterine growth retardation. Hypertensive disease of pregnancy was associated with a twice higher incidence of asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation