Diagnosis and Management of in utero Growth Failure

Although fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a relatively common obstetric disease, our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of this condition is relatively rudimentary. Moreover, once FGR is diagnosed, there are no known interventions that cure or definitively ameliorate the disease. This chapter focuses on the diagnostic and management paradigms in pregnancies complicated by FGR, emphasizing challenges that result from overlapping classifications, and delineating biophysical parameters currently used to diagnose FGR and characterize its severity. Several molecular tools that might aid in the definition of FGR are reviewed. Finally, we suggest pathways that may be useful in the clinical management of pregnancies complicated by FGR.