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Quantitative ultrasound in the evaluation of bone status in premature and full-term infants
Jonathan E Teitelbaum1, Ricardo J Rodriguez, Terri L Ashmeade
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ 07740, USA. jteitelbaum@sbhcs.com
Insights
Premature infants show lower bone strength compared to full-term infants, indicating a need for further research into metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP). This study provides crucial normative bone status data for newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Pediatric bone health
- Medical physics
Background:
- Metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) is a prevalent issue causing osteopenia, fractures, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis in premature infants.
- Establishing normative bone status data is crucial for advancing research and understanding of MBDP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative bone status data in premature and full-term infants.
- To provide a baseline for future studies investigating MBDP.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter study prospectively assessed bone status in newborns within 96 hours of birth.
- Patients were categorized into premature (25-36 wk gestational age) and full-term (37-42 wk gestational age) groups.
- Bone sonometry (Omnisense 7000) measured speed of sound (SOS) in the mid tibia to assess bone strength.
Main Results:
- A total of 235 infants were enrolled.
- Premature infants exhibited statistically lower age-adjusted SOS compared to full-term infants (p=0.001).
- A significant correlation was observed between SOS and birth weight (r=0.3; p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- This study provides the largest database of normative bone status measurements for preterm and term infants.
- The findings highlight differences in bone strength between premature and full-term neonates.
- The established normative data will aid future research on metabolic bone disease of prematurity.
Abstract:
Metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) is a common and significant problem that often gives rise to osteopenia, fractures, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. The purpose of our study is to establish normative data on bone status in premature and full-term infants to help future studies on MBDP. Bone status was prospectively determined as part of a multicenter study among newborns within 96 hours of life. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 included those neonates 25-36 wk gestational age (premature), and group 2 neonates were born at 37-42 wk gestational age (full term). Demographic data were collected. The Omnisense 7000 Bone Sonometer (Sunlight Medical Ltd., Tel-Aviv, Israel) was used to determine the speed of sound (SOS) through the mid tibia, which reflects bone strength. A total of 235 patients were enrolled in this study. Group 1 (i.e., the premature infants) had a statistically lower age-adjusted SOS as compared with group 2 (i.e., the full-term infants) (analysis of variance; p=0.001). There was also a correlation between SOS and birth weight (r=0.3; p<001). This study represents the largest database of normative data for bone status measuring in preterm and term infants.
