Preeclampsia and the risk of large-for-gestational-age infants

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the risk of giving birth to large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants in women with and without preeclampsia, after adjustment for obesity and glucose intolerance. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted secondary analysis of a prospective database of pregnant women with and without preeclampsia who delivered infants from 1998 through 2006 at Massachusetts General Hospital (n = 17,465). RESULTS: The risk of LGA was similar in women with and without preeclampsia (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.14). After adjustment for body mass index, glucose intolerance, and other factors, the risk of LGA was significantly lower in women with preeclampsia compared to those without preeclampsia (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.96). Stratified analysis in groups with a higher risk of LGA revealed that preeclampsia has a similar effect on the risk of LGA regardless of maternal obesity, glucose intolerance, parity, and race. CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia appears to be characterized by reduced, and not increased, fetal growth.