Concepedia

Abstract

Recent investigations support the concept that insulin is a primary growth hormone during fetal life. The importance of insulin in fetal development is illustrated by the following case presentation, a severely growth-retarded infant who possessed no detectable pancreatic tissue at postmortem examination. CASE REPORT Patient B.G.C. was born following an uncomplicated pregnancy to a 19-year-old gravida 1, para 0, abortus 1 mother by emergency Cesarean section for fetal distress. The baby weighed 1,350 gm with Apgar scores of 2 at one minute, 2 at five minutes, and 4 at ten minutes, requiring immediate intubation and ventilation. Gestational age was 41 weeks by dates, 36 to 37 weeks by clinical examination, and greater than 36 weeks by radiologic evidence of teeth calcification.1