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Altered regional blood flow in the fetus: the origins of cardiovascular disease?
Author(s) -
Barker DJP,
Hanson MA
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2004.tb00842.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , disease , blood flow , cardiology , intensive care medicine , pregnancy , genetics , biology
A fetal response to hypoxia and other adverse influences is to redistribute blood flow in order to “spare” the brain. This, however, is associated with reduced growth of the liver and kidneys. Conclusion : The long‐term consequences of fetal redistribution of blood flow are unknown, but preliminary evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of coronary heart disease and hypertension in later life.