[Results of an ultrasonic screening programme in the detection of intrauterine growth retardation]

Abstract

From January 1980 to July 1981 817 pregnant women were checked up by means of an ultrasonic screening programme. Ultrasonic measurement of the BPD and of the thoracic diameter were performed in the first trimester, between 21 and 30 and 31 and 40 weeks of gestation. For evaluation was used the diagram from Prenzlau and Issel. 72 out of the 817 women delivered a child with a birthweight below the 10th centile (GDR-Standards). From these children 65 (90,3%) were antenatally detected by ultrasonography. Hence, the sensitivity of the screening programme was 90,3%. The other parameters of the screening were: specifity 97,7%, positive predictive value 79,3%, negative predictive value 95,2%, effectivity 97,1%. The prediction of intrauterine growth retardation in the screening was significantly better compared to a group of 90 growth retarded children whose mothers were only examined by sonography sporadically. The average detection rate in both ultrasonic groups was 83,3%, but in contrast the percentage of clinically detected small-for-dates infants was only 15,4%.