ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Addition of glutamine to parenteral nutrition in surgical infants remains controversial. The aim of this trial was to determine whether glutamine supplementation of parenteral nutrition in infants requiring surgery would reduce the time to full enteral feeding and/or decrease the incidence of sepsis and septicaemia. METHODS: A prospective double-blind multicentre randomized clinical trial was performed in surgical infants less than 3 months old who required parenteral nutrition. Patients were allocated to treatment or control groups by means of minimization. Infants received either 0·6 g per kg per day alanyl-glutamine (treatment group) or isonitrogenous isocaloric parenteral nutrition (control group) until full enteral feeding was achieved. Primary outcomes were time to full enteral feeding and incidence of sepsis. Cox regression analysis was used to compare time to full enteral feeding, and to calculate risk of sepsis/septicaemia. RESULTS: A total of 174 patients were randomized, of whom 164 completed the trial and were analysed (82 in each group). There was no difference in time to full enteral feeding or time to first enteral feeding between groups, and supplementation with glutamine had no effect on the overall incidence of sepsis or septicaemia. However, during total parenteral nutrition (before the first enteral feed), glutamine administration was associated with a significantly decreased risk of developing sepsis (hazard ratio 0·33, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·15 to 0·72; P = 0·005). CONCLUSION: Glutamine supplementation during parenteral nutrition did not reduce the incidence of sepsis in surgical infants with gastrointestinal disease. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN83168963 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Gastrointestinal Diseases/surgery , Glutamine/administration & dosage , Parenteral Nutrition/methods , Body Weight , Double-Blind Method , Energy Intake , Female , Gastrointestinal Diseases/diet therapy , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Proportional Hazards Models , Prospective Studies , Sepsis/prevention & controlABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Thomsen-Friedenreich cryptantigen activation (TCA) exposes neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis NEC to the risk of hemolysis after transfusion of blood products. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of TCA in neonates with NEC and to correlate TCA with severity of disease and outcome. METHODS: One hundred four neonates with NEC were tested for TCA on admission. Patients with TCA requiring transfusion were given packed red cells, low-titer anti-T fresh frozen plasma, and washed platelets to avoid hemolysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three infants had TCA, and 96% of these had stage III disease. The incidence of TCA was significantly higher in infants with stage III disease compared with those with stage II (30% v 4%; P <.01). A total of 91% of infants with TCA required laparotomy compared with 81% of those with no activation. At laparotomy, widespread disease was more common in the TCA group (71% v 55%). TCA did not significantly increase mortality rate (TCA, 39% v no TCA, 28%); this may reflect the transfusion policy of our unit. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-two percent of neonates with NEC referred to our unit had TCA. There is an association between TCA and advanced NEC. Screening of neonates with advanced NEC for TCA is advised to identify those at risk of hematologic complications.