Bioelectrical impedance analysis in small- and appropriate-for-gestational-age newborn infants.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reliability of bioelectrical impedance analysis, and to compare and contrast the anthropometric and BIA status of newborns.


METHODS
BIA and anthropometric parameters were compared in the few days after birth and at about 3 weeks of age.


METHODS
At the maternity hospital or in a paediatric care unit.


METHODS
Small- or appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns, with birth weight below or above the 10th percentile of the reference value, respectively. Measurements were performed on 36 and 47 newborns at birth, and for a subgroup (21 and 11) again about 3 weeks later, respectively.


RESULTS
At birth, length2/resistance was 4.3 +/- 0.6 and 6.1 +/- 1.2 cm2/omega (P = 10(-7)), and at 3 weeks of age length2/resistance was 5.0 +/- 0.6 and 5.7 +/- 0.8 cm2/omega (P = 0.11), for small- and appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns, respectively. Percentage reliability was 2.2% and 2.6% for intra- and inter-observer measurements of resistance. Importance of a correct placement of the sensor electrode was demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
Ease of measurement and reliability of BIA in neonates were shown. Evolution of BIA values is in agreement with the known increase in total body water linked to regrowth of cell mass in small-for-gestational-age infants. Additional study is required before BIA should be used in usual clinical setting in newborns due to the lack of prediction equation.
Gartner
A
A
Laboratoire de Nutrition Tropicale, UR 44 du Département Santé de l'ORSTOM (l'Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération, Montpellier, France.
Sarda
P
P
Dupuy
R P
RP
Maire
B
B
Delpeuch
F
F
Rieu
D
D
D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015982:Bias; D001724:Birth Weight; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012885:Skinfold Thickness