[Changes in weight, length and head circumference in premature newborn babies weighing less than 1,500 grams at birth]. / Evolución del peso, la longitud--talla y el perímetro craneal en los prematuros de menos de 1.500 gramos al nacimiento.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the weight, length and head circumference development in prematurely born babies who weighed less than 1,500 grams and who were included in the follow-up program of our neonatal unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Review of data of the cohort included in the follow-up program between May 1990 and September 1995 was carried out. The weight and length were measured from 3 months of corrected age to 4 years of age. The head circumference was measured until 2 years of age. RESULTS: We recruited 259 premature newborns (136 boys and 123 girls). The median gestational age was 30 weeks (23 to 36) and the median weight was 1,150 g (500 to 1,499 g). Twenty-seven percent were underweight for their gestational age (LWGA). The proportion of cases with weight below the 3rd percentile in the follow-up was stable around 25% in the group of adequate weight for gestational age. (AWGA). At 3 months of corrected age this proportion was 70% in the LWGA group, but there was a trend towards catch-up at 2 years of age. The worst results were obtained in the group that weighed less than 750 g at birth. The head circumference was better preserved than longitudinal growth and thus better than weight. All cases of head circumference below the 3rd percentile in the follow-up occurs in the LWGA group. CONCLUSIONS: Weight was the parameter with the worst evolution during follow-up, especially in the group that weighed less than 750 g at birth. The group of LWGA tended to catch-up at 2 years of age.

[Captopril treatment of neonatal arterial hypertension]. / Tratamiento con captopril de la hipertensión arterial neonatal.

Captopril, an orally active angiotensin I-converting inhibitor, is an effective drug in the treatment of hypertension in adults and children. The use in newborn infants has been, nevertheless, short. We report five cases of hypertension in newborn infants poorly responsive to large doses of other potent antihypertensive agents: furosemide, propanolol and hydralazine. We have got a reduction in mean blood pressure in three cases, with doses of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg/day for a time lesser than a month. Another patient had a reduction with high doses (5 mg/kg), showing increase in mean serum urea, creatinin, potassium and phosphorus levels. This effect disappeared after captopril was discontinued. We suggest the use of captopril in hypertension non-responsive to other antihypertensive agents, mainly in those of renovascular cause.