Association Between Congenital Heart Defects and Small for Gestational Age

Abstract

Infants with congenital heart defects are approximately twice as likely to be small for gestational age as control subjects. Small for gestational age status may affect clinical management decisions, therapeutic response, and prognosis of neonates with congenital heart defects. Although the etiology of growth retardation among infants with congenital heart defects is uncertain, further exploration may uncover a common pathogenesis or causal relationship between congenital heart defects and small for gestational age.