Randomized, multicenter trial of two different formulas for very early enteral feeding advancement in extremely-low-birth-weight infants.

BACKGROUND: In extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants, formula feeding is required if human milk is not available. The tolerance of a new 'high' lactose (55 g/L), low protein, low phosphate, hydrolyzed protein formula (HLF) for early enteral feeding advancement of ELBW infants was compared with that of a low lactose (1 g/L) hydrolyzed protein formula (LLF). METHODS: In a randomized multicenter trial, 99 ELBW infants were fed according to a standardized protocol beginning at 48 hours of age with 12 ml/kg daily increments. Primary outcome was the cumulative milk feeding volume (CFV) from days 3 to 14. The authors hypothesized that feeding HLF as a supplement to human milk would increase the CFV at least by 20% in at least 60% of matched pairs compared with LLF. A secondary issue was to investigate whether human milk would increase the CFV compared with formula. RESULTS: The CFV was 720 mL/kg (range, 0-962 mL/kg) with HLF and 613 mL/kg (range, 3-1,283 mL/kg) with LLF feeding. There was no 20% difference. On day 14, the median feeding volume was 103 mL/kg. The CFV was 533 mL/kg (range, 0-962 mL/kg) in infants who received less than 10% of human milk and 832 mL/kg (range, 74-1,283 mL/kg) in infants who received more than 10%. Necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell stage > or =2) occurred only with LLF feeding (n = 5; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study failed to find the hypothesized 20% advantage of the new HLF. The observed advantage of human milk supports the hypothesis that it should be the first diet in ELBW infants; however, this hypothesis still must be confirmed in a controlled, randomized trial.

[Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy with complete occlusion of the superior and inferior vena cava]. / Sinushistiozytose mit massiver Lymphadenopathie mit komplettem Verschluss der Vena cava superior und inferior.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) is a rare disease of the lymph nodes, still of unknown origin. We are reporting the case of a 16 year old boy with SHML which occurred in 1983. Investigations showed a massive lymphadenopathy of the mediastinal and abdominal nodes, causing displacement and compression of surrounding tissue. The patient further developed a blockage of the vena cava superior and inferior, leading to numerous collateral circulation routes in the upper and lower extremities. The etiology of the venous blockage is still disputed. It is possible that they are the result of compression of the major veins. Alternatively, the cause could lie in the disruption of the coagulation system. Finally and more likely, the problem could be the result of fibrosis developing through the healing process.