Analysis of lower birth weight in infants with congenital limb deficiency.

A case-control study on different groups of isolated congenital limb deficiency was performed using a population-based and validated Hungarian data set of 537 cases. All groups showed a significantly lower birth weight. The adjusted odds ratio indicated a significantly lower mean birth weight in infants with terminal transverse deficiencies and a significantly higher rate of preterm birth in those with amniogenic defects (part of the early amnion rupture sequence). The different analyses showed that the lower birth weight in the terminal transverse group was caused mainly by intrauterine growth retardation. Lack of limb parts appears to be of secondary importance, especially in the upper limb.