Background. The study aimed to examine the effect of early hyperglycemia on the morbidity/mortality of very low birth weight premature infants. Methods. This retrospective study included all premature infants with gestational age ≤32 gestational weeks, hospitalized at the Department of Intensive Neonatal Care, Clinical Center Kragujevac, during the period 2017-2019. Hyperglycemia was defined as glycemia of ≥12 mmol/l in one measurement, or > 10 mmol/l in two measurements, at repeated intervals of 2-4 hours. Glycemia was determined from capillary blood, using a gas analyzer of Gem Premier 3000, during the first 7 days of life. Continuous intravenous insulin infusion was administered after ineffective glucose restriction at glycemic values of > 14 mmol/l. Results. Patients with normoglycemia (41/72 (56.94%)) and hyperglycemia (31/72 (43.06%)) did not differ in gender, gestational age, mode of delivery and antenatal administration of steroids, while birth weight had a tendency to be lower in the hyperglycemic group (p=0.052). Hyperglycemia was significantly associated with a low APGAR score at the fifth minute (p=0.048), necrotizing enterocolitis (p=0.011), and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (p=0.006). Hyperglycemia was associated with significantly more frequent fatal outcomes (35.5%) when compared with the normoglycemic group (4.9%). Accordingly, these patients required inotropic (r=0.036) and insulin therapy (r < 0.001) more often. Retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and sepsis did not correlate with hyperglycemia in our study. Intraventricular hemorrhage of the first degree was more often associated with normoglycemia in premature infants on prolonged mechanical ventilation while more severe intracranial hemorrhage was more common in the hyperglycemic group but did not result in statistical significance due to the small number of patients. Conclusions. Monitoring glucose levels in the blood of very low birth weight premature infants is clinically important because abnormalities in glucose homeostasis can have serious short-term and long-term consequences.
This study aimed to provide additional information on the influence of perinatal factors on fecal (f)-calprotectin values in preterm infants. Calprotectin was determined from the first spontaneous stool (analyzed on the Alegria device by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method) obtained from neonates at a mean age of 3.41 ± 2.44 days of life. We analyzed 114 subjects who had a body weight of 1847.67 ± 418.6 g and were born at a gestational age of 32.6 ± 2.43 weeks, without intestinal and other congenital anomalies or any diseases other than those related to premature birth. The values of f-calprotectin are in a positive correlation with female subjects, intrauterine growth restriction, significant ductus arteriosus, enteral feeding intolerance, postnatal prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and values of bicarbonates (analyzed in a sample of capillary arterial blood). Measurement of f-calprotectin in the first 7 days after birth can help to early detect the intestinal distress or early staging of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants.
We report three newborns with different manifestations of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection; a term newborn with acute neonatal pneumonia and two very low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and osteomyelitis of the femur, respectively. The association of U. urealyticum with acute and chronic respiratory disease in term and preterm newborns has recently been reported. Our two cases are similar to other case reports from the literature, but we were unable to find any previous reports of osteomyelitis due to U. urealyticum in the premature babies. Isolation of U. urealyticum in pure culture from the blood was considered to be related to local infection in all three patients. All patients were cured by erythromycin.
Thromboses are considered to be rare disorders in the pediatric population. However, they occur more frequently during the neonatal period. Potential risk factors for thrombosis onset include frequent use of peripheral, umbilical or central venous / arterial catheters, inflammation, disseminated intravascular coagulation, liver disorders, hypovolemia, asphyxia, congenital heart disease, polycythemia and dehydration. On the seventh day of life in male premature infant born in 29th / 30th gestation week, we noticed an increased level of inflammatory parameters. The patient’s right leg was edematous and cold with immeasurable pulse and pressure over the femoral artery, mottled skin and no spontaneous mobility. In the following days, edema becomes generalized and abdominal meteorism with bile vomiting appeared. Vascular surgeon established a diagnosis of the acute femoral artery stenosis (CW Doppler). We initiated continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin, but due to the development of hemorrhagic syndrome, next day we replaced it with low molecular weight heparin. The hemorrhagic disease was treated with tranexamic acid, fresh frozen plasma and concentrated platelets of the corresponding blood group. Signs of recirculation were registered with a palpable femoral pulse. CW Doppler confirmed complete recovery. In spite of the fact that antithrombotic therapy can cause numerous complications, it should be considered in vital indications.
Children born with the epidermolysis bullosa (so-called “butterfly children”) can eat only liquid or soft food due to the blisters on their mouth, tongue and esophagus. Due to their inactivity and permanent wounds, their fingers are curved and grown with a fist. Their eyes, anus and genitals are not spared either. The digestion is usually poor, so they often suffer from the constipation, and sometimes the intestine discharge can be performed only surgically. Due to frequent and numerous wounds, infections may develop, which can lead to sepsis. Wounds are caused by any kind of the pressure and re-bandaging of wounds is the most painful. These children can later be susceptible to other diseases, especially the skin cancer. More than 80% of children diagnosed with this disease become disabled in the first years of their lives, and some of them pass away immediately after birth. The average lifespan of the diseased is about 28 years. Here we have presented a rare case of a newborn male infant with a dystrophic epidermolysis bullousa, a congenital skin aplasia on the right leg and a nail dystrophy. Based on a typical clinical presentation, we think that it is Bart’s syndrome.
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