Reduced fetal growth velocity precedes antepartum fetal death.

OBJECTIVES 1) To determine whether decreased fetal growth velocity precedes antepartum fetal death, and 2) Evaluate if fetal growth velocity predicts better antepartum fetal death compared to a single, last available, ultrasound examination prior to diagnosis. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal study of 4,285 singleton pregnancies in African-American women who underwent at least two fetal ultrasound examinations between 14 and 32 weeks of gestation and delivered a live born neonate (controls; n=4,262) or experienced antepartum fetal death (cases; n=23). Fetal death was defined as the death of a fetus ≥ 20 weeks of gestation and confirmed by ultrasound examination. Exclusion criteria were: congenital anomalies, birth 10th ), alternative approaches are needed to improve detection of fetuses at risk for fetal death. Longitudinal sonographic evaluations to determine growth velocity doubles the sensitivity for prediction of antepartum fetal death compared to a single ultrasound examination, yet performance is still sub-optimal. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.