A Womb With a View.

Measurement of carotid wall thickness is a research tool that has been used to risk-stratify adults with cardiovascular disease, but its clinical role is debatable according to the current American Heart Association guidelines. However, an increased aortic wall thickness has been described in individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) in early childhood, implying that they may be at risk for later cardiovascular events and more latterly increased intima-media thickness (IMT) reported in smaller vessels in these children. These findings are in support of the developmental origins hypothesis, linking an adverse intrauterine environment to the development of later disease.