Impact of fetal growth on pregnancy outcomes in women with severe preeclampsia

Objective To estimate whether pregnancy outcomes in women with severe preeclampsia (sPE) with small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses differ from those with sPE without SGA or isolated SGA. Study design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive non-anomalous, livebirths in a single tertiary care institution from 2004 to 2008. We compared pregnancy outcomes in women who had sPE with SGA (birthweight < 10th percentile), and sPE without SGA to those with isolated SGA as reference. The primary outcome was a neonatal composite score including low 5-min APGAR, NICU admission and neonatal death. Secondary outcomes were components of the composite as well as placental abruption and cesarean delivery. Analysis was repeated with SGA defined as birthweight < 5th percentile. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. Results 1905 women met inclusion criteria: 156 sPE with SGA, 746 sPE without SGA, 1003 isolated SGA. The risk of the neonatal composite score was higher for sPE with SGA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–3.79) and sPE without SGA (aOR 3.66; 95% CI 2.71–4.93) compared to isolated SGA. The risk of abruption and cesarean were similarly increased in women with sPE with SGA and sPE without SGA compared to those with isolated SGA. Conclusion Similar to women with sPE without SGA fetus, women who have sPE with SGA are at a higher risk for several adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to isolated SGA. These findings suggest that women with preeclampsia and SGA should be managed as sPE rather than as isolated SGA.