Leviton A, Dammann O, Engelke S, Allred E, Kuban KCK, O'Shea TM, Paneth N. The clustering of disorders in infants born before the 28th week of gestation.
Acta Paediatr 2010;
99:1795-800. [PMID:
20712837 DOI:
10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01973.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIM
To see whether disorders prevalent in infants born extremely preterm cluster.
DESIGN
Observational cohort study.
SETTING
University-affiliated newborn intensive care nurseries.
SUBJECTS
One thousand two hundred and twenty-three infants born before the 28th week of gestation who survived until 36 weeks postmenstrual age when the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) could be made.
INTERVENTIONS
None.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Cerebral white matter damage (an echolucent lesion, or moderate or severe ventriculomegaly on a protocol cranial ultrasound scan), BPD, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and early and late bacteremia.
RESULTS
After adjustment for gestational age, children who had severe NEC (Bell stage IIIb) were at increased risk of cerebral white matter damage, severe ROP (stage 3+), and severe BPD (defined as both oxygen and ventilator dependent). Children who had early bacteremia were at increased risk of late bacteremia and severe ROP. Those who had severe ROP were at increased risk of severe BPD and both early and late bacteremia.
CONCLUSIONS
Necrotizing enterocolitis is the disorder common to most of the clusters, but we do not know if its onset occurred before the others. Organ-damage-promoting substances, however, have been found in the circulation of newborn animals with bowel inflammation, supporting the view that NEC contributes to the damage of other organs.
Collapse