Vitamin E in neonatology.
It is difficult to maintain an objective attitude toward the use of vitamin E in neonatology. On the one hand, the desire to ameliorate iatrogenic diseases, such as BPD and ROP, makes one grasp hopefully at any theory or clinical trial that suggests a role for vitamin E in decreasing the handicaps that patients take with them from the intensive care nursery. On the other hand, when the question of toxicity arises, one tends to be negative, remembering the unfortunate experiences with oxygen, chloramphenicol, sulfisoxazole, and now, E-Ferol Aqueous Solution. We like to think that if this review had been written 2 years ago, our conclusions, based on the analysis of the data, would have been the same. But, probably, in the absence of data on the severe toxicity of one vitamin E preparation, we would have been more liberal in our recommendations for the use of vitamin E in neonatology. At this time, however, any use of supplemental vitamin E beyond the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics cannot be recommended. Nor can the monitoring of blood Vitamin E levels be recommended as an assurance of nontoxic tissue concentrations in sick, premature infants. All physicians caring for premature infants are urged to review their nursery policies to make sure that excessive doses of vitamin E are not being administered. It is hoped that additional clinical trials will provide more definite answers to the questions about the efficacy of vitamin E in ROP and IVH.
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014810:Vitamin E