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A gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on placental size.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dombrowski, MP; Berry, SM; Hurd, WW; Saleh, AA; Chik, L; Sokol, RJ
Published in: Biol Neonate
1994

A placental weight (P) to birth weight (W) relationship, W = P1.5 x constant (A), was presented in 1966. However, based on histological and theoretical studies, placental efficiency increases proportionally to the square of the gestational age in weeks. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on P2. Data were prospectively entered into a computerized database for liveborn, structurally normal neonates at a tertiary, urban center. 29,989 neonates had gestational ages based on menstrual dating, ultrasound and Ballard examination, 81.4% were African American. The 'best fit' of W = A x P1.5 had errors in predicting the mean birth weight by at least 10% from 24 to 33 weeks of gestation. In contrast, there was significant improvement (p < 0.05) when the model W = 0.0071 x P2 was used; errors of greater than 10% only occurred at 28 and 43 weeks of gestation. This model had similar accuracy when stratified according to gender or ethnicity. A gestational-age-independent model of mean birth weight can be based upon the square of placental weight. We hypothesize that this model may have utility in understanding disorders of intrauterine fetal growth.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biol Neonate

DOI

ISSN

0006-3126

Publication Date

1994

Volume

66

Issue

1

Start / End Page

56 / 64

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy
  • Placenta
  • Pediatrics
  • Organ Size
  • Models, Biological
  • Mathematics
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Dombrowski, M. P., Berry, S. M., Hurd, W. W., Saleh, A. A., Chik, L., & Sokol, R. J. (1994). A gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on placental size. Biol Neonate, 66(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1159/000244090
Dombrowski, M. P., S. M. Berry, W. W. Hurd, A. A. Saleh, L. Chik, and R. J. Sokol. “A gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on placental size.Biol Neonate 66, no. 1 (1994): 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1159/000244090.
Dombrowski MP, Berry SM, Hurd WW, Saleh AA, Chik L, Sokol RJ. A gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on placental size. Biol Neonate. 1994;66(1):56–64.
Dombrowski, M. P., et al. “A gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on placental size.Biol Neonate, vol. 66, no. 1, 1994, pp. 56–64. Pubmed, doi:10.1159/000244090.
Dombrowski MP, Berry SM, Hurd WW, Saleh AA, Chik L, Sokol RJ. A gestational-age-independent model of birth weight based on placental size. Biol Neonate. 1994;66(1):56–64.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Neonate

DOI

ISSN

0006-3126

Publication Date

1994

Volume

66

Issue

1

Start / End Page

56 / 64

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy
  • Placenta
  • Pediatrics
  • Organ Size
  • Models, Biological
  • Mathematics
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn