title: Catabolic effect in premature infants with early dexamethasone treatment.
abstract: To evaluate the catabolic effects of dexamethasone therapy on protein metabolism, amino acid concentrations and urinary 3-methylhistidine (3MH) were measured in 28 premature infants who were included in a double-blind controlled study using early dexamethasone therapy in the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Fifteen infants received dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg/day i.v.) and 13 infants received normal saline as control. Heparinized venous blood samples for amino acid analysis were obtained before the study and again at day 5 after starting the study. Urinary 3MH was measured on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of treatment. A substantial increase in amino acid concentrations was observed in infants receiving dexamethasone. Alanine, glutamine, citrulline, ornithine and cystine concentrations increased twofold or more. The 3MH:creatinine ratio was increased in the treated group. These metabolic effects were most likely due to an increase in protein catabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000517:prevention & control; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000652:urine; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D008762:Methylhistidines; D011506:Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003404:Creatinine; C028118:3-methylhistidine