Screening methods for fetuses and newborns who are at increased risk due to the probability of IUGR disease

In Part I of their two-part study, the authors presented the MDN method (Maturity, Development, Nourishment), which allows for the simultaneous examination and classification of the weight and length development as well as the nourishment status of neonates. To accomplish this, a 64-cell MDN percentile matrix was developed, which can be used to depict and examine all combinations of weight and length development, as well as nourishment status. The data of 1,244,918 Hungarian neonates born during 2000-2012 was added to this matrix, after which the occurrence rates of stillbirth (SB), infant mortality (IM) and Total Perinatal Mortality (SB + IM) were calculated for each cell. Using these results, the authors distinguished 5 separate types of IUGR. This method was considered to be suitable for the identification and screening of high-risk IUGR fetuses and neonates. In Part II, the author present the screening methods that can be used during pregnancy and after birth to identify high-risk IUGR phenotype fetuses and neonates who might suffer from an IUGR condition. Fetuses and neonates with an IUGR condition identified through these screenings require immediate obstetric and neonatal diagnostic and differential diagnostic examinations and therapy in order to save their lives.