pediatrics
Small for Gestational Age (SGA) Infant
Prognosis for SGA Infant
If asphyxia can be avoided, neurologic prognosis for term SGA infants is quite good. However, later in life there is probably increased risk of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and stroke, which are thought to be caused by abnormal vascular development. If intrauterine growth restriction is caused by chronic placental insufficiency, adequate nutrition may allow SGA infants to demonstrate remarkable “catch-up” growth after delivery. Infants who are SGA because of genetic factors, congenital infection, or maternal substance use often have a worse prognosis, depending on the specific diagnosis. 