Title: [Distribution of uterine height during pregnancy in a Brazilian cohort -- comparison with the reference curve of the Centro Latino-Americano de Perinatologia]

POPLINE Document Number: 315044

Author(s):

Oppermann ML
Duncan BB
Mengue SS
Ramos JG
Serruya SJ

Source citation:

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetricia, 2006 Sep;28(9):513-522.

Abstract:

The purpose was to describe, in participants of the Brazilian Study of Gestational Diabetes (EBDG), the percentile distribution of uterine height by gestational age and to validate the use of percentiles of the chart derived by the "Centro Latino-Americano de Perinatologia" (CLAP), used as reference in predicting abnormal fetal growth. The EBDG is a cohort study of 5564 pregnant women older than 19 years, followed through and after delivery. Interviews and standardized anthropometry were performed at baseline between 20-28 weeks. Medical records covering prenatal and delivery periods were then reviewed following a standardized approach. Analyses pertain to 3539 women with gestational age confirmed by ultrasound. Diagnostic properties of the 10th and the 90th percentiles of both charts (EBDG and CLAP) as predictors of abnormal neonatal weight were determined. Uterine height was higher in EBDG than in the CLAP chart at every gestational week, being 1-4 and 2-6 cm greater, at the 10th and 90th percentiles respectively. The CLAP 10th percentile classified as small the uterine heights of only 0.3 to 1.7% of Brazilian women, while the 90th percentile classified as large the uterine heights of 42 to 57% of the sample. The sensitivity of CLAP percentile 10 in the prediction of small for gestational age varied from 0.8 to 6% and the specificity of CLAP percentile 90 in the prediction of large for gestational age, from 46 to 61%. The CLAP uterine height reference chart does not reflect the current uterine growth pattern of pregnant Brazilians, limiting its clinical applicability in the detection of abnormal fetal growth, especially intrauterine growth restriction. (author's)

Keywords:

Brazil
Research Report
Cohort Analysis
Pregnant Women
Fetus
Uterine Effects
Gestational Age
Examinations and Diagnoses
Anthropometry
Growth
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Developing Countries
Research Methodology
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Uterus
Genitalia, Female
Genitalia
Urogenital System
Physiology
Biology
Medical Procedures
Medicine
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Measurement
Child Development