Maternal anticonvulsants and perinatal risk.

According to data found in the literature, children born to epileptic mothers on anticonvulsant therapy have an increased perinatal mortality rate, namely 2-3 times the average. The congenital malformations attributed to anticonvulsant drugs cannot fully account for this high mortality rate. A case is described in which a severe bleeding disorder manifested itself in successive offspring. A discussion follows in which this defect in blood coagulation in the newborn and the role played by vitamin K is considered as representing an important and preventable cause of neonatal death and morbidity. Other features of the postnatal syndrome (CNS depression, congenital heart disease, withdrawal symptoms, anemia) are mentioned in the case report. Suggested preventative measures employing vitamin K, folic acid and vitamin D are briefly discussed.

[Noninvasive blood pressure determination in newborn infants]. / Non-invasieve bloeddrukmeting bij de pasgeborene.

In 69 newborns (birth weight 900-3820 grams; gestational age 27-41 weeks) the Dinamap device was used to establish normative values for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure for this indirect, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system. Reference values for the first day after delivery in different birth weight groups are given and the changes during the first three days of life are shown. Blood pressure variability as a possible additional parameter in neonatal monitoring was found to be independent of birth weight and gestational age.

Rickets in a preterm infant during intravenous alimentation.

A preterm baby given intravenous feeding developed severe rickets. Laboratory investigation revealed hypophosphatemia as the main cause of this picture. Recovery was achieved by giving extra phosphorus supplementation. This case demonstrates that conventional infusates do not meet the phosphorus requirement of rapidly growing infants.