Decreased developmental stability as assessed by fluctuating asymmetry of morphometric traits in preterm infants

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Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of 8 morphometric traits was studied in 113 preterm infants (26–36 wk of gestation), 103 term infants (37–41 wk), and their respective parents. With 3 different measures of FA, the highest values were obtained from extremely preterm infants (26–29 wk), and the lowest from the group of term infants. The estimates of FA values among parents, particularly mothers, showed a similar, albeit less pronounced, trend. Multiple regression analysis of individual mean FA values, calculated in infants for the 8 studied bilateral traits, documented a significant inverse correlation with gestational age and with the health status of the infants and their mothers, as well as a positive correlation with the mothers' mean FA values.