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Assessment of bone health in preterm infants through quantitative ultrasound and biochemical markers
Martina Betto1, Paola Gaio, Ilaria Ferrini
1Women's and Children's Health Department, University of Padova , Padova , Italy and.
Insights
Quantitative ultrasound (mcBTT) assessed bone status in preterm infants. Serum phosphate and urinary calcium/phosphate levels correlated with bone status, aiding in early health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Pediatric bone health
- Diagnostic imaging
Background:
- Preterm infants face risks of impaired bone development.
- Early assessment of bone status is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate quantitative ultrasound (mcBTT) for assessing bone status in preterm infants.
- To identify biochemical markers associated with bone health in this population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 154 preterm infants.
- Metacarpus bone transmission time (mcBTT) measured during hospitalization.
- Analysis of serum phosphate, urinary calcium, and phosphate excretion.
Main Results:
- mcBTT correlated positively with serum phosphate and phosphaturia, and negatively with calciuria at 3 weeks.
- Gestational age, weight, and length positively correlated with mcBTT.
- Shorter durations of parenteral nutrition and mechanical ventilation were associated with better mcBTT.
Conclusions:
- Serum phosphate, phosphaturia, and calciuria are significant biochemical markers correlating with mcBTT in preterm infants.
- Early bone status assessment using mcBTT shows promise for monitoring preterm infant bone health.
Objective:
To assess bone status in preterm infants with quantitative ultrasound and to search for biochemical markers of bone health.
Methods:
Metacarpus bone transmission time (mcBTT) was prospectively performed during hospitalization, together with biochemical and clinical outcomes analysis.
Results:
154 patients were studied. At 3rd week of life mcBTT positively correlated with serum phosphate. Urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate were assessed in a subgroup of 55 patients: on day 21 mcBTT positively correlated with phosphaturia, negatively with calciuria. Gestational age (GA), weight and length at 3rd week and at 36 weeks of GA correlated positively with mcBTT. We found negative correlation between mcBTT at 3rd week and days of parenteral nutrition, mechanical ventilation period and days to reach 1800 g.
Conclusions:
Serum phosphate, phosphaturia and calciuria correlate most with mcBTT. Further studies are necessary to verify the possible influence of early bone status on future bone health.
