Neonatal abstinence syndrome occurs in 30% of neonates exposed to SSRIs in utero. These neonates should be monitored for at least 48 hours after birth. The long-term effects of prolonged exposure to SSRIs, particularly in neonates who develop severe symptoms, have yet to be determined.

ABSTRACT. Objective. High-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important cause of severe cognitive and motor neurologic impairment in very low birth weight infants and is associated with a high mortality rate. The risk of IVH is inversely related to gestational age and birth weight. Previous studies have proposed a number of risk factors for IVH; however, lack of adequate matching for gestational age and birth weight may have confounded the results. The purpose of this study was to identify variables that affect the risk of high-grade IVH, using a retrospective and case-control clinical study.Methods. From a cohort of 641 consecutive preterm infants with a birth weight of <1500 g, 36 infants with IVH grade 3 and/or 4 were identified. A control group of 69 infants, closely matched for gestational age and birth weight, was selected. Maternal factors, labor and delivery characteristics, and neonatal parameters were collected in both groups. Results of cranial ultrasound examinations, whether routine or performed in presence of clinical suspicion, were also collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed.Results. High fraction of inspired oxygen in the first 24 hours, pneumothorax, fertility treatment (mostly in vitro fertilization), and early sepsis were associated with an increased risk of IVH. A higher number of suctioning procedures, a higher first hematocrit, and a relatively low arterial pressure of carbon dioxide during the first 24 hours of life were associated with a lower occurrence. In the multivariate logistic regression model, early sepsis (odds ratio [

II.

Objective: To assess the long-term neurodevelopment of children exposed in utero to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that developed a neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).Study Design: Neurodevelopmental evaluation was performed at the age of 2 to 6 years. Children who developed NAS were compared with those who did not using univariate and logistic regression analyses.Result: Thirty children with NAS and 52 without NAS participated in the study. Both groups were similar in mean cognitive ability (106.9 ± 14.0 vs 100.5±14.6, P ¼ 0.12) and developmental scores (98.9±11.4 vs 95.7 ± 9.9, P ¼ 0.21). However, there was a trend towards small head circumference in the NAS group (20 vs 6%, P ¼ 0.068). NAS was associated with an increased risk of social-behavior abnormalities (odds ratio (OR) 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 8.60, P ¼ 0.04) and advanced maternal age (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.25, P ¼ 0.04). Conclusion:Infants who developed NAS had normal cognitive ability, but were at an increased risk for social-behavioral abnormalities. Followup evaluation of symptomatic neonates should be considered.

ABCD and LamB appear to be effective, safe and well tolerated in premature infants with CBSI and renal dysfunction. Larger trials are needed before routine use can be recommended.

Newborns exposed in utero to SSRIs, have a twofold higher risk of mild nonsyndromic heart defects than unexposed infants. The data suggest that women who require SSRI treatment during pregnancy can be reassured that the fetal risk is low and possible cardiac malformations will probably be mild. Late-targeted ultrasound and fetal echocardiography at 22 to 23 weeks' gestation are recommended in this patient group.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) differs between preterm and older infants and children in terms of prevalence, clinical presentation, causative organism, and rate of underlying renal anomalies. Data on risk factors of UTI in preterm infants are limited. The aim of this study was to characterize UTI both clinically and microbiologically in premature infants and to define possible risk factors and the role of breastfeeding in its development. This case-control study was conducted in a tertiary-care neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 1995 and 2003. The study group included all premature infants (<37 weeks' gestation) diagnosed with UTI. Pre-, peri-, and postnatal data on demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging variables were collected from the medical records and microbiology laboratory log and compared with a gestational age- and birth weight-matched infants without UTI (control group). The ratio of control infants to cases was 2:1. Of the 6198 premature infants admitted to the NICU during the study period, 56 (0.9%) were included in the study group. The main causative organism was Klebsiella spp. Logistic regression analysis identified gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28-6.85, P < 0.0001] and the presence of a peripheral intravenous catheter on the day of infection to be significantly associated with UTI, while breast milk was associated with a lower risk of infection (OR 0.314, 95% CI 0.140-0.707, P < 0.009).

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