Early onset neonatal thrombocytopenia is associated with severe intraventricular hemorrhage in very preterm infants: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The role of platelet function in the development of intraventricular hemorrhage is still a subject of debate. In this study, we aimed to determine whether there is an association between platelet indices in the first week of life and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage in very preterm infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preterm infants born < 30 weeks of gestation in our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Platelet parameters, including platelet counts, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, and platelet mass were retrieved at two different time points: the initial value on the first day of life and the value closest to the end of the first week of life. The infants were categorized according to the findings of cranial ultrasonography as; no intraventricular hemorrhage, mild or severe intraventricular hemorrhage. RESULTS: Totally, 1051 infants were evaluated. The mean gestational age and birth weight for the entire cohort were 27.9±1.6 weeks and 1058±247 g, respectively. Infants in the severe intraventricular hemorrhage group had significantly lower gestational age (p < 0.001) and birthweight (p < 0.001) compared to other two groups. Furthermore, there were significant differences in platelet count and platelet mass between the groups at two time intervals. However, logistic regression analysis revealed that only platelet count of < 100×109/L on the first postnatal day was independently associated with the severity of intraventricular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: There is an association between platelet count of < 100×109/L on the first postnatal day and severe intraventricular hemorrhage in very preterm infants.

Comparison of three different noninvasive ventilation strategies as initial respiratory support in very low birth weight infants with respiratory distress syndrome: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There is inadequate evidence regarding which noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is superior for initial respiratory support of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. OBJECTIVES: To compare the failure of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and neonatal outcomes between nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) as the initial respiratory support with less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: Medical records of 419 VLBW infants born at 26-30weeks' gestation who did not require intubation in the delivery room and were initially supported with either NCPAP (n=221), BiPAP (n=101), or NIPPV (n=97) were retrospectively reviewed. The LISA approach was preferred in cases of surfactant requirement. The primary outcome was the failure of NIV within the first 72h of life. Failure of NIV was defined as the persistence or recurrence of one or more of the following: hypoxemia, respiratory acidosis, more than one episode of apnea requiring bag and mask ventilation or more than six episodes of apnea requiring stimulation over a 6-h period. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Failure of NIV within the first 72h of life was significantly higher in the NCPAP group (29.4%) compared with the BiPAP (12.9%) or NIPPV (12.4%) group (P<0.001). However, the BiPAP and NIPPV groups were not different in terms of NIV failure (P=0.91). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that antenatal steroid administration (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27-0.90; P=0.02) and gestational age˂28weeks (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.18-3.49; P=0.01) were independent factors that influence failure of NIV within the first 72h of life. CONCLUSION: Compared with NCPAP, the use of NIPPV/BiPAP strategies for initial respiratory support can reduce the need for invasive ventilation in infants born at 26-30weeks' gestation.

Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein load in pre-storage and post-storage white blood cell-filtered red blood cell transfusions in premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: Leukocyte contamination during blood transfusion can cause many adverse effects. Filtration can be performed either at bedside during the transfusion or as pre-storage filtration. Pre-storage filtration is superior to bedside filtration because leukocytes are removed prior to storage, thus preventing further adverse effects associated with the storage of these cells. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred and six infants were randomised into two groups: pre-storage filtration (group 1, n = 53) and bedside filtration (group 2, n = 53). C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were analysed within 24 h prior to the transfusion and 24 h after completion of the transfusion. RESULTS: In group 1, pre-transfusion median CRP and IL-6 levels were 2·95 (0·73-10·25) mg L(-1) and 8·59 (3·45-20·55) pg L(-1) , respectively, and post-transfusion median CRP and IL-6 levels were 2·28 (0·44-12·87) mg L(-1) and 6·62 (2·18-27·87) pg L(-1) , respectively. In group 2, pre-transfusion median CRP and IL-6 levels were 1·30 (0·40-7·84) mg L(-1) and 4·40 (2-17·12) pg L(-1) , respectively, and post-transfusion median CRP and IL-6 levels were 3·50 (0·50-7·85) mg L(-1) and 8·30 (3·48-23·75) pg L(-1) , respectively. There were no differences between pre-storage and post-storage leukoreduction average IL-6 and CRP levels in either group (P > 0·05 for both). Packed red blood cell (PRBC)-related necrotizing enterocolitis was detected in one infant in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Because leukocytes in PRBC transfusions can be associated with many undesirable effects, leukoreduction is the best choice to prevent those effects. However, this method is still controversial. We demonstrated that using pre-storage and post-storage leukoreduction methods in erythrocyte transfusions did not change CRP or IL-6 levels, which are indicators of acute-phase response.

Fryns anophthalmia-plus syndrome: two rare cases.

Fryns anophthalmia-plus syndrome is a rare syndrome with clinical diversity primarily including anophthalmia/microphthalmia, facial clefts, cleft lip/palate, ear and nasal deformities. Here we present two different cases of APS with anopthalmia/microphthalmia, cleft palate, low set ears, ventriculomegaly and one of which had intestinal non-fixation anomaly not described in the literature before.

The association between respiratory tract Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization and severe retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants ≤1250 g.

AIM: To evaluate the association between respiratory tract Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) colonization and development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment. METHODS: The infants with birthweight (BW) ≤1250 g born in a third-level neonatal intensive care unit between March 2009 and May 2010 were prospectively identified. Nasopharyngeal swabs for Uu colonization were taken in postnatal first 3 days. Culture-positive patients were reevaluated on the twelfth day by nasopharyngeal swabs for Uu. The primary outcome was to define whether there was an association between respiratory tract Uu colonization and severe ROP requiring treatment. Independent sample's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare continuous variables and Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Multivariate (backward) logistic regression analysis was performed to simultaneously measure the influence of the independent variables with ROP as the dependent variable. RESULTS: A total of 25 (12.1%) infants developed severe ROP requiring treatment among 206 infants who underwent ROP screening. Mean BW and gestational age of total cohort were 1013±159 g and 27.9±1.6 weeks, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that BW (OR: 0.64 (95% Cl 0.47-0.88); P=0.006), duration of mechanical ventilation (OR: 1.17 (95% Cl 1.06-1.28); P=0.001), premature rupture of membrane >18 h (OR: 3.83 (95% Cl 1.2-12.2); P=0.02), and Uu positivity in both cultures (OR: 5.02 (95% Cl 1.8-13.9); P=0.002) were independent risk factors for the development of severe ROP requiring treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory tract colonization with Uu was independently associated with severe ROP requiring treatment.

Oral probiotics: Lactobacillus sporogenes for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low-birth weight infants: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The identification of probiotic species involved in gut homeostasis and their potential therapeutic benefits have led to an interest in their use for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Although bifidobacterium and lactobacilli sp. have been used to reduce the incidence of NEC in clinical trials. Lactobacillus sporogenes has not been used in the prevention of NEC in very low-birth weight infants yet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered L sporogenes in reducing the incidence and severity of NEC in very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted in preterm infants with a gestational age of <33 weeks or birth weight of <1500 g. VLBW infants who survived to start enteral feeding were randomized into two groups The infants in the study group were given L. sporogenes with a dose of 350,000,000 c.f.u. added to breast milk or formula, once a day, starting with the first feed until discharged. The infants in the control group were fed without L. sporogenes supplementation. The primary outcome measurement was death or NEC (Bell's stage ≥2). RESULTS: A total of 221 infants were studied: 110 in the study group and 111 in the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of death or NEC between the groups. Feeding intolerance was significantly lower in the probiotics group than in the control group (44.5% (n: 49) vs 63.1% (n: 70), respectively; P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: L. sporogenes supplementation at the dose of 350,000,000 c.f.u/day is not effective in reducing the incidence of death or NEC in VLBW infants, however, it could improve the feeding tolerance.

Respiratory syncytial virus outbreak defined by rapid screening in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Palivizumab is currently licensed for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease in infants and children with chronic lung disease, with a history of preterm birth, or with haemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, but its routine use during outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is not currently recommended. Here we report an outbreak in a NICU detected during a screening trial for RSV infection using a rapid antigen test (Respi-Strip((R))). Eleven preterm infants in our NICU tested positive for RSV during January 2009. Subsequent testing of the remaining infants in the NICU revealed two additional asymptomatic cases. In addition to precautions against cross-infection, palivizumab prophylaxis was administered to the remaining 37 premature infants. Two days after treatment, RSV was detected in two additional infants who had become symptomatic. To our knowledge this is the largest RSV outbreak in a NICU to be identified at an early stage by rapid testing and effectively controlled by infection control measures and palivizumab prophylaxis.