Evidence in animal models and observations in human newborns suggest that intrauterine growth restriction is associated with a shrinkage of the thymus, possibly mediated by the activation of the hypotalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sonographically the size of the fetal thymus in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses. Thymic involution seems an integral part of the fetal stress response occurring in the setting of intrauterine growth restriction. Our findings provide the basis for further investigations on the role of the sonographic fetal thymus assessment in the evaluation of fetal immuno-endocrine response to malnutrition
Thimic involution in IUGR fetuses: a sonographic marker of the fetal immuno-endocrine response to malnutrition.
RAFFAELLI, Ricciarda;Stefano Uccella;
2007-01-01
Abstract
Evidence in animal models and observations in human newborns suggest that intrauterine growth restriction is associated with a shrinkage of the thymus, possibly mediated by the activation of the hypotalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sonographically the size of the fetal thymus in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses. Thymic involution seems an integral part of the fetal stress response occurring in the setting of intrauterine growth restriction. Our findings provide the basis for further investigations on the role of the sonographic fetal thymus assessment in the evaluation of fetal immuno-endocrine response to malnutrition
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