Maternal Vitamin D Levels and Its Correlation With Low Birth Weight in Neonates: A Tertiary Care Hospital Experience in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction A meta-analysis showed that 63.6% of the Saudi population have vitamin D deficiency, including many pregnant women. Studies showed that maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a risk factor for low birth weight (LBW) in neonates. Neonatal LBW is a risk factor for multiple neonatal complications including respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, chronic renal disorders, seizures, and sepsis. Our objective in this study is to determine a correlation between low maternal vitamin D level and neonatal LBW in Saudi Arabia. Methods Neonates (n = 119) were divided based on their gestational age (GA) into full-term neonates (≥37 weeks) and preterm neonates (< 37 weeks) and based on birth weight into normal birth weight neonates (full-term = 2,500-3,500 g or preterm > 10th percentile) and LBW neonates (full-term < 2,500 g or preterm < 10th percentile). Vitamin D deficiency is defined as 25- hydroxyvitamin D level less than 50 nmol/L. Results Correlating neonatal birth weight with maternal vitamin D level during pregnancy was statistically insignificant for both full-term neonates and preterm neonates. In contrast, comparing the mean maternal vitamin D levels in each neonatal group showed that the mean were higher in mothers of neonates with normal birth weight. Conclusion Because 87.4% of mothers had low vitamin D levels during their pregnancy, correlation between maternal vitamin D level and LBW in neonates could not be found. However, mean maternal vitamin D levels were higher in mothers with normal birth weight neonates. Therefore, further detailed studies are required to establish local guidelines about the treatment of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy.

Congenital acinar dysplasia. Familial cause of a fatal respiratory failure in a neonate.

Pulmonary hypoplasia is a rare cause of pulmonary insufficiency, and has a significant rate of morbidity and mortality among affected infants. In most cases, pulmonary hypoplasia is secondary to underlying abnormalities. These may include space occupying lesions, as in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia; malformation of chest wall resulting in a small thoracic cavity; severe and prolonged oligohydramnios; and neuromuscular disorders, which prevent normal fetal chest expansion. All lead to poor lung development. Primary pulmonary hypoplasia as a result of congenital acinar dysplasia is exceedingly rare and is diagnosed by exclusion of all known etiologies of secondary pulmonary hypoplasia.