title: Changes in total body water and extracellular fluid volume in infants receiving total parenteral nutrition.
abstract: The nature of weight gain seen in infants receiving total parenteral nutrition continues to be controversial. The debate centers around whether or not the weight gain represents an increase in body mass or water retention. The following study was carried out to answer this question. Eighteen infants receiving peripheral or central intravenous nutrition following major surgery were studied for periods ranging from 1 to 17 weeks. The following studies were carried out after receiving informed consent from the parents and in accordance with the standards established by the Human Use Committee. Total body water was measured using the nonradioactive isotope, deuterium oxide; extracellular fluid volume was assayed using the nonradioactive isotope, sodium bromide. Both body fluid compartments were calculated using the Fick principle of dye dilution. Following double vacuum distillation, serum deuterium oxide was assayed using the falling drop technique. Serum bromide was measured by a technique developed in our laboratory that involves the complexing of bromide with gold chloride and the measurement of this chemical complex colorimetrically. Weight gain was observed in all patients. Total body water percent body weight was 82% +/- 15% prior to the initiation of intravenous nutrition; it decreased within the first week to 71% +/- 12% and then stabilized for the remainder of the study period at 75% +/- 7%. The extracellular fluid volume percent body weight was 56% +/- 15% prior to the start of intravenous nutrition; it fell to 47% +/- 10% during the first week of parenteral nutrition, and then stabilized at 40% +/- 9%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D001834:Body Water; D001835:Body Weight; D001965:Bromides; D003903:Deuterium; D017666:Deuterium Oxide; D004395:Dye Dilution Technique; D005110:Extracellular Space; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D012964:Sodium; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001965:Bromides; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D014867:Water; D012964:Sodium; D003903:Deuterium; D017666:Deuterium Oxide; C027938:sodium bromide