Hyperglycemia in very low birth weight infants: a common iatrogenic problem.
From a total of 36 very low birth weight infants (less then 1200 g) admitted to our neonatal unit during an 18-month period, 7 were fed per os while the remaining 29 received, during the first 4 days of life, parenteral glucose infusion either as a supplement to oral feedings (n: 11) or as the only source of fluids (n: 18). Among these 29 infants 21 (72%) manifested hyperglycemia (blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dl). On the contrary none of the 7 infants receiving oral feedings exclusively manifested hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia was related to high rates of glucose infusion (greater then 0.4 g/kg/hr). These data attest to the fragile nature of glucose metabolism in infants of very low birth weight.
D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male
D005947:Glucose