Neurological, psychological and educational sequelae of low birth weight.

In a prospective study of 501 infants of low birth weight (LBW) who mostly weighed 2,041 g (4 1/2 lb) or less, and of 203 control infants of full birth weight (FBW > 2,500 g), 335 LBW and 139 FBW children were followed beyond the age of 6 years and 6 months. The incidence of neurological defects was negatively correlated with birth weight, and the mean "global" IQ of different birth weight groups retained a direct relationship. While the relationship of birth weight to IQ gradually became less marked, the effect of social class was increasingly evident from the age of 2 years and 6 months. The preterm children whose birth weight was appropriate for gestational age (AGA) attained a slightly higher mean IQ and significantly better grade placement in the third school year than the children who were unduly light for their gestational age. Details of the neurological and ophthalmological defects are given, and the predictive significance of neonatal variables is analyzed.

Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and the child's subsequent development: I. Physical growth to the age of 6 1/2 years.

PIP: The growth of 81 "small-for-dates" (SFD) and 99 "truly premature" children of low birth weight, and of 146 controls of full birth weight (FBW) was analyzed with respect to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Shortly after birth, a history was obtained from the mother pertaining to factors which could be related to the pregnancy outcome. Physical examination, developmental tests, and psychological tests were performed on the children up to the age of 6 1/2 years. There was a highly significant excess in the percentage of smokers among the mothers of SFD children as compared to FBW control children. At 6 1/2 years, the children of nonsmoking mothers had a slightly greater mean weight and height in all categories. Statistically significant differences in favor of nonsmokers' children were seen only in the FBW children. Mean social class was lower in children of nonsmoking mothers. Other factors influencing growth, such as maternal height and weight, and childrens' sex were not significantly different in the 2 groups of children. Although the trends of the results indicate that cigarette smoking in pregnancy may negatively affect the child's growth, the trends rarely reached statistical significance, and larger numbers are required for detailed factorial analysis.^ieng

Carotenemia in mentally retarded children. I. Incidence and etiology.

The incidence and etiology of carotenemia in mentally retarded children were examined. Fasting serum carotenoid and vitamin A levels were measured in 77 profoundly mentally retarded children aged 3 to 19 years who were receiving a standard diet containing 2000 IU of carotene (expressed in terms of vitamin A activity) and supplemented by 2000 IU of vitamin A daily. Seventeen of the 77 patients had serum carotenoid levels of more than 300 mug./ml. The particulate size of food had a significant inverse relationship to serum carotenoid levels and was an important factor in determining carotenemia. The serum vitamin A level was also higher in children on homogenized diet than in those on pureed feeds, while the lowest level was noted among patients on a chopped diet. Besides particulate size of food, other factors may also be operative in determining carotenemia.