ASSESSMENT OF NEONATAL CARE STANDARD BY THE PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY BASED ON WEIGHT GAIN.

Care of extremely premature infants is in constant need for evaluation and progress. WINROP, a predictive model based on weight gain, has been developed to reduce the number of stressful examinations for retinopathy for prematurity. Validation studies of WINROP emphasize the difference of applicability in neonatal units of various practice. The aim of the study was to assess the standard of neonatal care by WINROP. Data on extremely premature infants were collected from medical records and entered in WINROP. High- and low-risk WINROP distribution and retinopathy of prematurity outcomes were analyzed. Fifty-four infants, gestational age ≤28 weeks, were included in the study after exclusion of weight related comorbidities. High risk was noted in 74% (n=40) of infants with 24% (n=13) developing retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment. In low alarm group, there were 3 cases with severe disease. In conclusion, WINROP is not just a provider of predictive information on the severity of retinopathy of prematurity. High-risk alarm indicates the need of adjustment of nutritional strategies. Infants without pathological growth morbidities who develop severe retinopathy of prematurity in low-risk group point to other risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity to be evaluated and changed in future practice.

Nucleated red blood cells count as first prognostic marker for adverse neonatal outcome in severe preeclamptic pregnancies.

The purpose of this study was to determine acceptability of the nucleated red blood cells counts (NRBC) as early prognostic parameter for adverse outcome in preterm neonates born from pregnancies complicated with severe preeclampsia. We analysed 77 premature newborns who were born from pregnancies with severe preeclampsia during eight years (2004-2011) in our tertiary center. Women with other pregnancy complications were excluded from the study, as well as newborns with malformations and chromosomal anomalies. Newborns were compared according to the count of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) on the first day of life. Cut off of NRBC was determined at 40 per 100 white blood cells. We analyzed and compared birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores in 1st and 5th minute, hypoglycemia in first day of life, need for respiratory support, neonatal infection and brain ultrasound findings at the day of discharge between the groups of newborns. We found significantly lower birth weight, gestational age and Apgar scores in case group (NRB C > 40) and significantly higher rate of infections, need for respiratory support, abnormal brain ultrasound findings, morbidity rate and adverse neonatal outcome compared to control newborns group. Increased count of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) in preterm newborns born from pregnancies with severe preeclampsia seems to be the first significant marker for detecting adverse neonatal outcome.

Coexistance of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis and Dandy Walker malformation in newborn.

Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in neonatal period may cause neurological impairment, epilepsy, and lead to stroke. It is caused primarily by coagulopathy of numerous reasons, occasionally perinatal asphyxia, traumatic delivery and hyperhomocysteinemia. Dandy-Walker malformation is characterized by agenesis or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle, and enlargement of the posterior fossa. Dandy-Walker malformation, variant, and mega cisterna magna represent a spectrum of developmental anomalies. Insults to developing cerebellar hemispheres and the fourth ventricle are believed to be the cause of malformation. Our patient was born from noncomplicated pregnancy, noncomplicated nontraumatic vaginal delivery at term, excellent Apgar scores, without peculiarities in clinical status. She was brest-fed by the 42nd hour of life when she had rightsided seizures during sleep that repeated for five times in next 24 hours. Brain Ultrasound (US) revealed clot in left lateral ventricle, slight dilatation of left ventricle, both sided periventricular echodensity, ischemia, slight enlargement of forth ventricle and a bit smaller cerebellum. There was no visible flow through left transverse, superior sagittal and straight sinus. Magnetic Resonance (MRI) confirmed the finding and showed thrombosis of left and right transverse venous sinuses and confluence of sinuses. Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed leftsided focal changes. The newborn was treated with phenobarbiton for 8 days and had no convulsions during that period. All coagulation parameters, homocistein, lipoproteins (a) and D-dimers were normal. There were no mutations on FV R506Q, PT 20210A, MTHFR 677C/T. No antiphospholipides were found. Heart US showed no structural anomalies. No other patology or risk factors were present at the time. Before discharge, US showed hydrocephalus. Flow in affected sinuses was visible with color Doppler. MRI showed recanalization of affected sinuses, also hydrocephalus and presentation of Dandy Walker On EEG there was borderline finding. Due to progression of hydrocephalus ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was placed. In age of 1 year EEG was slower for age but without focus. Neurological development was normal for age. The question is whether this child had intrauterine insult and inception of Dandy Walker with further postnatal progress of thrombosis and evolution to full picture of Dandy Walker with hydrocephalus OR thrombosis that led to development of hydrocephalus and Dandy Walker malformation in this child were accidental coexistance.

[Vitamin B12 deficiency in children--underestimated danger in the light of new knowledge]. / Manjak vitamina B12 u djece --podcijenjena opasnost u svjetlu novih spoznaja.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has two active forms, adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin which have a key role in two important metabolic pathways in humans and their deficiency is responsible for clinical problems. Cobalamin is essential during whole life, but its sufficient amount is extra important in fetal and neonatal period, when it is essential for normal child growth and development as well as for normal development of the central nervous system. Because of very complex transport and metabolism, its deficiency can be manifested in numerous congenital and acquired disorders. Vitamin B12 deficiency mostly has non-specific clinical features, it carries a great risk of permanent consequences, but most frequently it is easily curable if diagnosed on time. In Croatia cobalamin deficiency in children has been diagnosed too rarely. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to point to the recently gained knowledge on cobalamin metabolism, present typical case reports and to provide guidelines for rapid and proper diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

[Clinical aspects and therapy of toxic hepatitis]. / Klinicka slika i terapija toksicnih hepatitisa.

The different types of hepatotoxicity can be induced by drugs. Approximately 2%-5% of patients require hospitalization for jaundice. Drug-induced hepatic lesions are responsible for 10% of hepatitis cases in adults. Most hepatotoxic drug reactions are idiosyncratic and classified either as immunologic (hipersensitivity) or metabolic. In contrast to intrinsic hepatotoxins, these reactions are not dose-dependent nor predictable. The enzyme system responsible for drug biotransformation in liver is cytochrome P450, a large multigene family of enzymes with 300 members. Clinical presentation in patients who develop drug hepatotoxicity can be asymptomatic with mild biochemical abnormalities, resembling acute hepatitis or chronic autoimmune hepatitis, veno-occlusive disease and cirrhosis. Withdrawal of the drug usually leads to reversal of the lesion. A spectrum of drug induced hepatotoxicity, diagnosis and treatment is reviewed.

Can neonatal myasthenia gravis be predicted?

AIM: To determine any association between history of mothers with myasthenia gravis (MG) and the occurrence of neonatal myasthenia gravis (NMG). METHODS: The prospective study involved pregnant women with MG and their newborns delivered in our center throughout the nine-year period. The study included 16 newborns with NMG and 33 healthy newborns without symptoms of NMG. Their outcome was evaluated in relation to the duration of the illness (<5, 5-10, >10 years) and maternal therapy (no therapy, mestinon, corticosteroid, or combination of the two). RESULTS: The duration of maternal illness and type of therapy were not predictive of neonatal outcomes (P=0.159, and P=0.578, respectively). CONCLUSION: The duration of illness and therapy of women with MG do not correlate with manifestation of NMG and do not predict which pregnancies would result in an affected child. Because of possible severe, unpredictable, and life threatening NMG, these births should be carried out in a tertiary birth center.