Causes of Prematurity

Anderson, Nina A.; Lyon, Robert A.

doi:10.1001/archpedi.1939.01990090140012

Cited by 31 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Subsequent papers began to use definitions in publications with some exceptions. A 1938 review of over 15,000 deliveries focused on the attributes of premature births (Anderson and Lyon 1939 ). Peckham used the 2500 g cutoff and a length of 45 cm (Peckham 1938 ).…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

2500-g Low Birth Weight Cutoff: History and Implications for Future Research and Policy

Hughes

Black

Katz

2016

Matern Child Health J

172

126

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Purpose To research the origins of the 2500 g cutoff for low birth weight and the evolution of indicators to identify newborns at high mortality risk. Description Early research concluded “prematurity”, measured mainly through birth weight, was responsible for increased health risks. The World Health Organization’s original prematurity definition was birth weight ≤2500 g. 1960s research clarified the difference between gestational age and birth weight leading to questions of the causal role of birth weight for health outcomes. Focus turned to two etiologies of low birth weight, preterm births and intrauterine growth restriction, which were both causally associated with morbidity and mortality but through different pathways; a standard cutoff based on gestational age or customized cutoff was debated. Assessment While low birth weight can be due to preterm or intrauterine growth restriction (or both), the historic 2500 g cutoff remains the standard by which the majority of policy makers define low birth weight and use it to predict perinatal and infant adverse outcomes. Conclusion Current efforts to refocus research on preterm births and poor intrauterine growth are important to understanding the direct causes of mortality rather than low birth weight as a convenient surrogate. Such distinctions also allow researchers and practitioners to test and target interventions outcomes more effectively.

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Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

2500-g Low Birth Weight Cutoff: History and Implications for Future Research and Policy

Hughes

Black

Katz

2016

Matern Child Health J

172

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The differences in risks between mothers of boys and girls with eRMS might suggest that the relevant cancer-associated genes in male foetuses are more important in maintaining development and normal functioning of fast growing organs, such as the foetal adrenal cortex than in females. Male foetuses grow faster and males have higher average birth weight but shorter gestations than girls [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated breast cancer risk among mothers of a population-based series of 2668 children with cancer

Pang

Evans²,

Birch³

2009

ecancer

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Aims:Although a previous study found high risk of breast cancer in mothers of children with soft tissue sarcomas, breast cancer risks in mothers of sufferers of other childhood cancers largely remain unknown. The aetiology is not fully understood. The present study explored this excess by varying type of childhood solid cancer and formulated a hypothesis.Methods:Mothers of 2668 children with solid tumours included in the Manchester Children’s Tumour Registry, 1954–96, were traced and followed up to 31 December 2000 through the UK National Health Service Central Register. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR), p-values and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from age and calendar-year-specific female breast cancer incidence rates for England and Wales.Results:There was a significant excess of breast cancer in mothers overall (SIR=1.3, 95%CI=1.0–1.5) mainly due to mothers of children with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) (SIR=2.2, 95%CI=1.0–4.0), skin cancer (SIR=7.9, 95%CI=2.9–17.1) and central nervous system tumours (SIR=1.2, 95%CI=0.9–1.8). Maternal breast cancer risk was associated with late age at birth of the index child, and male sex and young age at diagnosis in the index child. Risk was highest in the ten years, following the birth of the index. The pattern was seen most strongly in mothers of children with embryonal RMS.Conclusion:There are excesses of breast cancer in mothers of children with solid tumours in general and specifically in RMS, skin and central nervous system (CNS). There appears to be a temporal relationship between certain tumours in children and breast cancer in their mothers, suggesting an origin of their respective pregnancy. We propose a mother–foetal interaction mechanism to explain this association.

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