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Growth and endocrine function during school age in very low-birth weight infants
T Takeuchi1, D Tanaka, N Saikawa
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. ttake@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Insights
Very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants often experience short stature. Despite normal growth hormone and IGF-I levels, their long-term growth remains suboptimal.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Short stature and low bodyweight are common in premature infants.
- The pathophysiology underlying these growth issues remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the growth and endocrine function in very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants.
- To understand the long-term growth outcomes and potential contributing factors.
Main Methods:
- Growth and endocrine function were assessed in 23 VLBW infants aged 11.3–14.3 years.
- Measurements included height, weight, serum IGF-I, urine GH, and bone age.
- Predicted adult height was calculated using bone age.
Main Results:
- VLBW infants had mean height and weight scores of -0.50 SD.
- Serum IGF-I and urine GH levels were within normal ranges.
- Predicted adult height was -0.52 SD, indicating suboptimal growth despite normal endocrine markers.
Conclusions:
- VLBW infants exhibit reduced physical growth and predicted adult height compared to normal birth weight children.
- Normal serum IGF-I, urine GH, and bone age do not fully explain the persistent growth deficit.
- Further research is needed to identify the underlying pathophysiology of impaired growth in VLBW infants.
Background:
Short stature and low bodyweight are commonly encountered problems in the clinical follow up of premature infants. However, details about the underlying pathophysiology are unknown in these cases.
Methods:
Evaluations of growth and endocrine function were performed in 23 very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants between 11.3 and 14.3 years of age.
Results:
The mean (+/-SD) scores for height and weight were -0.50+/-0.97 and -0.50+/-1.10 SD, respectively. Mean serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and urine growth hormone (GH) levels were 402+/-138 ng/mL and 18.0+/-17.5 pg/mg creatinine, respectively. Serum IGF-I and urine GH levels were within the normal range for all patients. The bone age values were consistent with the patient's true age. Physical signs of puberty were detected in 15 of 23 patients (65%). Using bone ages to predict final adult height yielded a score of -0.52+/-1.08 SD.
Conclusions:
Despite the almost normal results of serum IGF-I, urine GH levels and bone age, the physical growth of these VLBW infants was less than that of normal birth weight children, as was their predicted adult growth.