Neonatal blue light phototherapy increases café-au-lait macules in preschool children.

UNLABELLED: Neonatal blue light phototherapy (NBLP) is an effective treatment for hyperbilirubinaemia. Concerning the influence on melanocytic nevi, conflicting studies have been published. To assess the role of NBLP according to the incidence of melanocytic nevi in preschool children, a cohort of 104 5- to 6-year-old children were included. The case group consisted of 52 NBLP-exposed children, while the control group (n = 52) never had NBLP and was matched regarding age, gender, gestational age and skin phototype. Six dizygotic twins were included with one twin having received NBLP, respectively. The following parameters were recorded: nevi count, presence of freckles, café-au-lait macules, skin phototype and previous history of sun exposure. There was no significant association between nevi count and exposure to NBLP (median nevi count 17.0 compared to 18.5 in controls). No significant difference was also found in the dizygotic twin pairs with a median nevi count of 10.0 (with NBLP) compared to 14.5 (without NBLP). However, a significantly higher prevalence of café-au-lait macules was found in children with NBLP (mean count 0.5) than in children without NBLP (mean count 0.2; p = 0.001). Significant predictors for the number of melanocytic nevi included skin phototype, sun exposure and vacations in the South. CONCLUSION: In this study, NBLP had no significant influence on the development of melanocytic nevi, but on café-au-lait macules which was a new finding. Differences with comparable studies regarding age, differentiation between nevi and other pigmented lesions as well as dose and type of NBLP need to be taken into account for further investigations.

Mortality and major morbidity in premature infants less than 31 weeks gestational age in the decade after introduction of surfactant.

OBJECTIVE: Population- but also center-based mortality and major morbidity rates of premature infants are essential for prenatal counseling and quality control. METHODS: Records of all infants <30 + 6 weeks (n=674) admitted (1991-2000) to a single neonatal intensive care unit were reviewed and compared to the state-wide mortality. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety-one infants were born in or transferred to the hospital and 600 infants (89%) survived. The mean (SD) birth weight was 1018 g (+/-314) and the mean gestational age 27+5 weeks (+/-2.0). Mortalityand morbidity did not change significantly over the 10-year period but correlated inversely with gestational age from 45% at 23(0/7) weeks to 5% at 30(6/7) weeks. Study center mortality rate for extremely low birth weight infants with birth weight <750 g was significantly lower than reported for the entire state (local 25%; Bavaria 36% p = 0.0003). Thirty-four per cent (251/600) of the survivors had one or more major complications: intracranial hemorrhage III-IV 8% (88/600), periventricular leucomalacia 6% (41/600), bronchopulmonary dysplasia with oxygen requirement at 36 weeks 20% (128/600), necrotizing enterocolitis 6% (43/600), and retinopathy of prematurity grade III-IV 9% (55/600). Survival without major morbidity increased from 32% at 23 weeks to 92% at 30 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Despite changes in obstetric and neonatal care during the 1990s, mortality and major morbidity rates did not change significantly after the introduction of surfactant in 1991. Comparison of local, regional, national, and international mortality and morbidity rates are becoming more important in allocating resources and in decision-making at the limits of viability.

Postnatal growth curves for extremely low birth weight infants with early enteral nutrition.

UNLABELLED: Early enteral nutrition improves growth of extremely low birth weight infants, but growth curves beyond 30 days of life are lacking for such infants receiving early enteral nutrition. Based on the data of all infants born in a 4-year interval with a birth weight <1000 g and surviving for >56 days, we calculated growth rates and weight gain over 120 postnatal days. Infants with major congenital anomalies or necrotising enterocolitis were excluded. Daily weight, weekly length, head circumference and nutritional data were collected until discharge or for maximal 120 days. Curves were calculated in 100 g birth weight intervals, and separately for appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Data were available from 163 infants (birth weight 768 g +/- 153 g; gestational age 26.8+/-1.8 weeks; mean +/- SD) including 55 SGA infants (33.7%). Full enteral feeding was achieved at day 21.7 (+/-10.4). After 12.8% (+/-6.6%) maximal postnatal weight loss at day 7.5 (+/-3.0), birth weight was regained at 14.6 (+/-6.0) days. Mean overall weight gain was 15 g/kg per day with a significantly higher weight gain for SGA than for AGA infants (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Our early fed infants achieved better weight gain than those recently published receiving late enteral nutrition, but nevertheless fell below the 10th percentile of intrauterine curves. Which postnatal growth is ideal for extremely low birth weight infants infants is unclear. Our growth curves should not be taken as reference curves of a "normal population" but may help to identify infants with growth failure.