Fetal growth restriction - clinical manifestations through the perspective of pathophysiological changes

Abstract

Intrauterine restriction of fetal growth is one of the most interestings and nowadays  intensively studied problems of modern obstetrics. Fetal growth restriction can lead to significant obstetric complications, as well as consequences after delivery. For the obstetricians the fetal growth means iatrogenic prematurity,  fetal distress, perinatal morbidity but also long term consequences as metabolic disease, cardiovascular pathology and Alzhaimer disease.  There was considerable controversy as to how fetal growth restriction should be defined and diagnosed. Biometric and biophysical tests have been proposed to diagnose growth restriction, but until recently there were no unanimously accepted standards for the diagnosis of this pathology. This definition was reached in 2021 by the FIGO publication. Under the condition of  intrauterine hypoxia adaptation mechanisms are activated. Understanding  the ongoing pathophysiological process of adaptation in a hypoxic media helps to better understand proposed diagnosis criteria and the classification.