Preterm AGA infants with birth weights 9 0 0-1 4 0 0 g are studied in this controlled randomized multicenter trial. The infants are followed from 3 t o 8 weeks of age with a further assessment a t the age of 1 6 weeks. Only "healthy preterms" are included. Human milk is given throughout the study, and both treatment group and controls receive extra protein and iron t o ensure sufficient supply for increased red cell production. Milk protein (0.9 gllOO rnl human milk) and oral iron I18 mg Fe++lday increasing t o 36 mglday if serum iron falls below 1 6 pmolll) are given. EPO (Eprex, Cilag AG) is given s.c. thrice weekly; 1 0 0 IUIkgldose from week 3 t o week 7. Until now 2 4 children have been included (1 0 treated & 1 4 controlsl. Preliminary data show : BW of the groups are similar (1 2 9 4 g and 1 2 4 4 g). There
In pretcrn~ ilrklnts, p;trticul;trly VLBW ink~nts, the Ihe;ld is f1.1ttencd duri~ig 111e tis\t weeks of lilit. This dolicl~occ.ph;tly is oRen ;tmoci;~tcd with ;I high ;~scl~cd p.ll;lte i~nd 111-0truding eych:tlls. Ilyp~tlhcsis: The II;~ltc~iing ol the hc;td hl~;~pc: in vety low I~istli weight inklnts is c:rused by gs;rvity ;tntl Llvored hy osteopeni;~. Method: 1) l'ho hc;td sh;~l)t: (li~onto-ouei[~it;~l di;tllicter, I~ip:~rict:tl d., hiotl,ir;~l d.) nil tl~e Ilot~e mincr.~l cor~tc~it (I3MC) (,I' l l~e right 111i1l Iiumerus wcre me:tsuseil ill 85 nc\vl>orn inl;tnls witllin the First live ~x'stn:tt"l 1l;lys (hi1111 weight 430 to 6760 g, gcst:~tion;rl ;tgc 25 lo 42 week\) to ol1t;lin reference v:~lues. 2) The he:d sh;rpc (Iro~~to-occipit;~l/I~i~>:~rieti~l di;~tnetcr r:~tio FOD/BPD) :~nd DMC were me:tsured in 220 VLLlW in1:11rts ut~til discll:~rge. Multilllc ste[lwise segrebsiot~ (DMDPZR) wits c;rlcul;~tccl Srom 314 m c ;~~u r c m e~~t s 10 cv.lluilte tlic contribution 01' BMC/l>11dy weigh[, gc*t.ttion.tl '~gc, 11o\tt1;1t,!I .IS?, I h i l t l~ \vcigI~t, i t t~i l weight ;it time (IS nie;tsut itig lo the v;~si;~lion ol Ilc;~iI sh;~pe. Itesolts: 1) T l~e 170D/OI'D r;ttio ;tlter I>iltll w;ts ne:~rly con5t;lnt during 24-40 wccks 01 gc\t;~lion (I:OD/UPD =
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