Fetal Cardiovascular Programming in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Intrauterine growth restriction, with a prevalence of 5-10% in newborns, is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in adulthood. This work describes how intrauterine growth restriction induces primary cardiac dysfunction and remodelling in utero that persists postnatally which could explain the increased predisposition to cardiovascular disease in adult life. This opens new opportunities for cardiovascular monitoring and intervention in newborns and children affected with this condition.