OC06.05: Prenatal cerebellar growth trajectory as novel biomarker for body composition of the newborn

In our previous study, we showed a strong correlation between the periconceptional maternal body mass index (BMI) and growth trajectories of the embryonic and fetal cerebellum. We hypothesise that the growth trajectory of the fetal cerebellum is a determinant in the developmental origin of adiposity in the offspring. Here we investigate associations between the fetal trans cerebellar diameter (TCD) and neonatal body composition, and fetal thigh volume (TVol). The study population is selected from the Rotterdam Periconception cohort conducted at the Erasmus MC. Two- and three-dimensional ultrasound scans are performed at 22, 26 and 32 weeks gestational age (GA). Air-displacement plethysmography is used to measure neonatal body composition at 42 weeks calculated from the last menstrual period. Cross-sectional analysis using linear regression and longitudinal analyses are performed using linear mixed models to estimate random intercept (RI) and random slope (RS) of the fetal TCD growth trajectories. Linear regression analysis of the RI and RS is used to investigate associations between TCD growth trajectories and body composition. 82 mother-child pairs are included for analysis. The cross-sectional analyses showed a positive association between TCD and fat free mass (FFM) at 22 (β=0.139; p<0.01), 26 (β=0.118; p<0.01) and 32 (β=0.076; p<0.01) weeks GA. Adjustment for maternal BMI, maternal age, fetal gender, parity, smoking and mode of conception shows comparable results. The longitudinal analysis shows a positive association between TCD growth trajectories and FFM (β=1.003; p=0.02). A positive association was shown between TCD and TVol at 26 (β=0.667; p<0.01) and 32 (β=1.221; p=0.02) weeks GA. This data demonstrates that the fetal TCD is associated with TVol and neonatal FFM. Further research should elucidate whether the fetal TCD can be used as a novel marker to predict adiposity in offspring. Since TCD is a standard measurement during structural ultrasound examinations, we suggest that implementation is already feasible.