The Postnatal Glucose Concentration Nadir Is Not Abnormal and Does Not Need to Be Treated

Reply to the Letter to the Editor “The Postnatal Glucose Concentration Nadir Is Not Abnormal and Does Not Need to Be Treated”

“…We appreciate and agree with the comments by Hay et al [1] regarding our paper, “Newborn Plasma Glucose Concentration Nadirs by Gestational-Age Group” [2]. In this study, we showed for the first time that glucose concentration nadirs for extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs) as well as for preterm and late preterm newborns were lower than those for full term newborns and that the time to nadir for ELGAN and preterm newborns was significantly earlier than for full term newborns.…”

“…The last sentence of the abstract was not supported by our study results, and we understand the concerns raised by Hay et al [1] in the interpretation of the sentence: “In order to potentially prevent low glucose concentrations at the time of the nadir, exogenous glucose should be provided to all newborns as soon as possible after birth.” We would like to formally retract this sentence.…”

“…Although not mentioned by Hay et al [1], we would also like to amend the last sentence of the manuscript from “At the present time, we suggest providing exogenous glucose as soon as possible after birth and using the screening guidelines for timing and whom to screen based on AAP guidelines [29]” to the following: “At the present time, we suggest providing exogenous glucose to ELGAN and very preterm newborns as soon as possible after birth. For late preterm and term newborns, recommendations for timing and whom to screen should be based on AAP guidelines [29].”…”

Erratum versus Retraction

“…The final sentence of the abstract of this paper stated: “In order to potentially prevent low glucose concentrations at the time of the nadir, exogenous glucose should be provided to all newborns as soon as possible after birth.” This provoked an almost immediate response from four neonatologists based worldwide in Aurora, Louisville, Auckland, and London [2]. These authors were very concerned that the statement about all newborn infants might be erroneously interpreted by some readers to imply that intravenous dextrose infusion or formula milk are required even for normal term and late preterm infants [2]. They called for a retraction and correction of the concluding abstract statement and asked for the journal to respond to explain how this incorrect statement was allowed to appear in print [2].…”

“…These authors were very concerned that the statement about all newborn infants might be erroneously interpreted by some readers to imply that intravenous dextrose infusion or formula milk are required even for normal term and late preterm infants [2]. They called for a retraction and correction of the concluding abstract statement and asked for the journal to respond to explain how this incorrect statement was allowed to appear in print [2]. …”