[Long-term non-neurologic morbidity in low birth weight infants. A 3-year follow-up]. / Patologia non neurologica a distanza nel bambino nato di basso peso. Follow-up a tre anni.

The aim of the present work is to observe non-neurological morbidity in low-birth-weight-neonates during the first year of life, to define their predominance and to establish whether any correlation between the observed pathologies, gestational age and/or birth weight is evident. Respiratory infectious diseases were the most frequent cause of morbidity starting during the first months life. Anemia and osteopenia were significantly related to gestational age, both occurring with high frequency in babies born before 31 weeks of gestational age. In this gestational age group of neonates birth weight did not influence the incidence of the pathologies studied. On the contrary, morbidity was inversely related to birth weight when neonates of greater gestational age were considered. Candidiasis was significantly more frequent in newborn babies weighing at birth less than 2000 grams. Follow-up programs of low-birth-weight neonates give the opportunity to establish nutritional schedules fit for infants born prematurely and to provide precocious diagnosis and therapy apt to minimize infectious respiratory diseases, so often occurring in these babies.

[Prevention of hypocalcemia in low-birth-weight newborn infants: a comparative clinical study on the efficacy of ergocalciferol (Vit. D2) and calcifediol (Vit. 25(OH)D3)]. / La profilassi dell'ipocalcemia nel neonato di basso peso: studio clinico comparativo sull'efficacia dell'ergocalciferolo (Vit. D2) e del calcifediolo [Vit. 25(OH)D3].

During the first week of life, 400 IU per day of 25(OH)D3 were given to 126 preterm and 112 full-term, small for date newborn infants, while 1000 UI per day of Vitamin D2 were given to 18 preterm and 27 full-term, small for date newborn infants, in order to compare their effectiveness for the prevention of neonatal hypocalcemia. 67 preterm and 67 full-term newborns were included in the control group. The incidence of late hypocalcemia was reduced from 16.4% to 0 in full-term babies and from 6% to 2.4% in preterm babies by the 25(OH)D3 but not by Vit. D2 administration. The incidence of early hypocalcemia was not modified at all. The Authors suggest 25(OH)D3 administration to prevent the late hypocalcemia and, together with calcium support, to treat the early hypocalcemia in the low birth weight newborn.

[The growth of the low-birth-weight neonate: assessment at 3 years]. / Accrescimento del neonato di basso peso: valutazione a 3 anni.

Follow-up studies of low-birth-weight (LBW) neonates have shown a high incidence of growth failure in the first years of life. We evaluated the growth attainment (weight, length and head circumference) in 182 LBW neonates discharged from our Intensive Care Unit between 1982-84 and included in a 3 years follow-up program. The aim of the study is to analyze the correlation between gestational age (GA) and subsequent growth failure. Neonates included in the study were divided in 4 groups (G) according to GA: I G < or = 30 weeks GA; II G = 31-33 weeks GA; III G = 34-36 weeks GA; IV G > or = 37 weeks of gestational age. Growth was evaluated at 40 weeks GA on the basis of Lubchenco and Battaglia centiles, and thereafter at 12, 24 and 36 months according to Scalamandrè greeds. Subnormal weight (< 10 degrees centile) was still evident at 3 years of age in 16.7% of the most premature babies (group I), in 6.2% of babies born between 31 and 33 weeks GA (group II), in 7.1% of babies in group III and in 16.6% of LBW babies born at term of gestation (group IV). Length measurements were satisfactory in PT babies as none of them showed a length < 10 degrees centile by 24 months of age. On the contrary, in the term LBW neonates group 15.6% of babies still showed subnormal length at 3 years of age. Head circumference remained < 10 degrees centile in 16.6% in the I group, in 6.2% in the II group, 21% in the III group and 30% in the IV group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Osteopenia of prematurity. Proposal for clinical-laboratory screening]. / L'osteopenia della prematurità. Proposta di uno screening clinico-laboratoristico.

Osteopenia is a metabolic bone disease which affects a great deal of preterm infants. X-Ray evaluation is still the main step of the diagnostic and follow-up procedures. The Authors prospectively studied 77 newborn infants with birth weight less than 2500 grams, to identify specific clinical and biochemical features of the osteopenic infants. From the 2nd to the 12th week of life clinical, biochemical and radiological signs of osteopenia were looked for, every 2 weeks: the diagnosis of osteopenia was made on the basis of X-Ray. 26 osteopenic subjects with ga less than or equal to 32 weeks and/or bw less than or equal to 1500 grams were compared with 20 controls with ga less than or equal to 32 weeks and/or bw less than or equal to 1500 grams and with 31 control infants with ga greater than 32 weeks and bw greater than 1500 grams. Wider anterior funtanels, their progressively increasing dimensions, and craniotabe (with the "ping pong ball" sign) were the most characteristic features, as well as the increasing pattern of alkaline phosphatase activity, of the osteopenic babies. The Authors suggest a specific clinical and biochemical score to make the correct diagnosis and a non invasive follow-up in the osteopenic subjects and to avoid dangerous X-Ray exposure to babies that are not osteopenic.