Immune Function and Catch-up Growth of 6-month Infants with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

Objective To explore the influence of “developmental programming” on immunity function and the correlation between immunologic changes and physical growth. Methods Sixty singleton pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and twenty normal pregnant women were enrolled in this study at their third trimester of pregnancy. Birth weight, birth length, mode of delivery, complication of newborn were measured and/or recorded at the moment of delivery. Physical development of the infants was measured every month up to six months old using weight and length as indicators. The deviation of physical growth was evaluated by \Z score. Blood samples were taken from the infants at the sixth month. Lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed using flow cytometry. Humoral immunity were measured using immunoturbidimetry. Results About 27.27% and 29.09% of IUGR infants were found to have small for gestational age (SGA) and neonatal complications. They had lower birth body masses and birth lengths than those of controls （\P\P\P<0.05）.Conclusion IUGR infants without intrauterine-catch-up and extrauterine-catch-up have impaired immunity function. The theory of “development program” needs proof of studies with a large sample size and long-term follow-up.