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Bone mineralisation in premature infants cannot be predicted from serum alkaline phosphatase or serum phosphate

J Faerk1, B Peitersen, S Petersen

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University Clinic of Paediatrics, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaards allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark. jfaerk@dadlnet.dk

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|August 24, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Routine blood tests for alkaline phosphatase and phosphate do not predict bone mineral content in premature infants. These markers are not useful for assessing bone health in preterm babies at term.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Premature infants exhibit lower bone mineral content compared to mature infants at the same postconceptional age.
  • Serum alkaline phosphatase and serum phosphate levels are commonly employed as indicators of bone mineralization.
  • Assessing bone health in preterm neonates is crucial due to potential long-term skeletal issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between bone mineral content and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and phosphate in premature infants.
  • To determine if routine biochemical markers can predict bone mineralization outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • Serum alkaline phosphatase and phosphate levels were monitored weekly in 108 premature infants (gestational age < 32 weeks).
  • Bone mineral content was assessed at term (41 weeks postconception) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, adjusted for body size.

Main Results:

  • A significant negative correlation was observed between serum alkaline phosphatase and serum phosphate levels (p < 0.001).
  • No significant association was found between bone mineral content and mean or peak serum alkaline phosphatase, nor with mean serum phosphate at term (p > 0.2).

Conclusions:

  • Routine serum alkaline phosphatase and serum phosphate measurements are not reliable predictors of bone mineralization outcomes in premature infants.
  • These biochemical markers do not aid in predicting the final bone mineral status of preterm neonates at term.
Abstract

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