Growth hormone in intra-uterine growth retarded newborns.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study growth hormone levels in IUGR and healthy controls and its association with birth weight and ponderal index. METHODS: We studied 50 Intra uterine growth retarded (IUGR) and 50 healthy newborns born at term by vaginal delivery in JIPMER, Pondicherry, India. Cord blood was collected at the time of delivery for measurement of growth hormone. RESULTS: When compared with healthy newborns, IUGR newborns had higher growth hormone levels (mean +/- SD, 23.5 +/- 15.6 vs 16.2 +/- 7.61 ngm/ml, P = 0.019). A negative correlation was identified between growth hormone levels and birth weight (r2 = - 0.22, P = 0.03) and ponderal index (r2 = - 0.36, P = 0.008). Correlation of growth hormone levels was much more confident with ponderal index than with birth weight. CONCLUSION: At birth IUGR infants display increased growth hormone levels which correlate with ponderal index much more confidently than with birth weight.