title: Aldosterone and sodium HOMEOSTASIS in preterm infants.
abstract: A specific mass spectrometric method was used for tetrahydroaldosterone determination in urine of preterm infants (26-34 weeks gestational age) up to 9 weeks of age. Hyponatraemia during the first 2 weeks of life was associated with an excretion of tetrahydroaldosterone (5-50 mug/24 h) comparable with full-term infants. Excretion of tetrahydroaldosterone was significantly elevated in all infants studied during the third week of life (80-350 mug/24 h) and this was associated with establishment of positive sodium balance. The excretion of tetrahydro aldosterone remained high for 2 or 3 weeks. The results are discussed in relation to the development of renal tubules and control mechanism for sodium homeostasis.
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009318:Natriuresis; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium