Postnatal renal function in preterm newborns: a role of diseases, drugs and therapeutic interventions

A comparison of AmBisome to amphotericin B for treatment of systemic candidiasis in very low birth weight infants

PURPOSE

Amphotericin B is considered the treatment of choice for systemic candidiasis, but adverse effects may limit its use. An alternative option for the treatment of candidiasis includes lipid preparations of amphotericin B. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of AmBisome, a lipid formulation of amphotericin B containing liposomal structures, for the treatment of systemic candidiasis in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 26 VLBWI treated with AmBisome in the study group (AmBisome group) from October 2003 to July 2006 were compared with data from 20 VLBWI treated with amphotericin B as a historical control (Amphotericin group). This study was a prospective, historical control, multi-center trial.

RESULTS

Candida spp. was isolated in 73% (19/26) of the cases for the AmBisome group and 90% (18/20) of the cases for the Amphotericin group. The fungal eradication rate and the time to eradication was 84% (16/19) and 9+/-8 days in the AmBisome group, and 89% (16/18) and 10+/-9 days in the Amphotericin group, respectively (p=0.680 vs p=0.712). The major adverse effects were lower in the AmBisome group (renal toxicity, 21% vs 55%, p=0.029; hepatotoxity, 25% vs 65%, p=0.014, AmBisome group vs Amphotericin group, respectively). There was no significant difference in mortality attributed to systemic candidiasis (12% in the AmBisome group, 10% in the Amphotericin group, p=0.868).

CONCLUSION

AmBisome is effective and safe for treating systemic fungal infections in VLBWI.

Urinary mineral excretion in preterm neonates during the first month of life

BACKGROUND

Estimation of urinary parameters in preterm infants is a useful method for identifying metabolic derangements.

OBJECTIVES

A prospective, longitudinal, hospital-based study was designed to examine the variability and the associations in renal excretion of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphate (P) and sodium (Na) in formula-fed preterm infants during the first month of life.

PATIENTS

Thirty-four infants <32 weeks gestational age, clinically stable, not receiving nephrotoxic drugs.

METHODS

Measurements of serum and 8-hour urinary mineral and creatinine (Cr) concentrations were made in all infants during three periods (at 7-10, 14-17 and 21-26 days postnatally). The urinary parameters, FENa, FEP, UCa/UCr, UMg/UCr were calculated. 24- hour urinary excretion was estimated by extrapolation of the 8-hour values.

RESULTS

The 24-hour excretion values (median and range) (mmol/kg) during the three study periods were, respectively, for Ca: 0.027 (0.015-0.15), 0.030 (0.007-0.12), 0.031 (0.008-0.12), for P: 0.26 (0.07-0.83), 0.29 (0.06-0.67), 0.41 (0.22-0.70), for Mg: 0.025 (0.007-0.14), 0.025 (0.008-0.16), 0.027 (0.010-0.10) and for Na: 2.85 (0.8-15), 1.45 (0.3-17), 1.56 (0.6-4.3). Na excretion declined while the excretion of the other minerals remained stable. A positive correlation was observed between excretion of Ca, Mg and Na (Ca vs. Na r = 0.63, p < 0.0001; Ca vs. Mg r = 0.65, p < 0.0001; Na vs. Mg r = 0.38, p = 0.012) as well as between the renal parameters FENa, FEP, UCa/UCr, UMg/UCr and the respective 24-hour excretion values (r = 0.80, 0.86, 0.84, 0.81) CONCLUSIONS: Urinary excretion of Ca, P, and Mg in preterm formula-fed infants is stable during the first month of life while urinary Ca, Na and Mg are closely correlated during the same period.