Placental causes of fetal growth restriction and treatment methods

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is one of the most common pregnancy complications and a leading cause of iatrogenic preterm birth. AIM: To examine the potential causes of fetal growth restriction and available treatment options, based on a comprehensive literature review from the past decade utilizing search databases such as PubMed and Elibrary. The most common etiology of intrauterine growth restriction is abnormal placentation, frequently associated with impaired placental blood flow. Fetuses with growth restriction and significant abnormalities in umbilical artery blood flow are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, including intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, and neonatal morbidity such as hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypothermia, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and seizure syndrome. Additionally, epidemiological studies indicate that fetuses with IUGR are predisposed to cognitive delays during childhood and conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and ischemic heart disease in adulthood. Various pharmacological interventions are being explored as potential adjuncts to improve fetal outcomes.