The neurocognitive outcome of IUGR children born to mothers with and without preeclampsia

Objective: To examine long-term behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcome of children born growth restricted and exposed to hypertension in utero at 9 years of age. Methods: Somatic growth and neurocognitive outcomes were evaluated at age 9-10 years of age in 42 children born with intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR) after pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorder (17 with maternal preeclampsia and 25 after gestational hypertension). This study group was compared to a control group of 78 IUGR children born after normotensive pregnancy. Results: Only weight was found to be significantly lower in the hypertensive-IUGR group, versus the normotensive IUGR children. No significant differences were found in any of the neurocognitive parameters including IQ, school achievements, and neurodevelopmental score at age 9-10 years. Conclusion: IUGR is a well known risk factor for later cognitive difficulties but maternal hypertensive disorder does not seem to add significantly to this risk.