Outcomes of extremely low-birth-weight infants between 500 and 750 g.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe morbidity, mortality, and developmental outcomes among extremely low-birth-weight infants (500-750 g).


METHODS
This retrospective cohort study included 167 live-born infants born at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center between January 1990 and December 1995.


RESULTS
Mortality rates were 86% among infants <600 g and 44% among those > or =600 g, and the rate decreased with increasing gestational age. The absence of chorioamnionitis (P =.01) and the use of antepartum corticosteroids (P <.0001) or neonatal surfactant (P =.0001) were associated with survival. Sixty-four percent of studied infants had respiratory distress syndrome, and 17% had grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage. Among the 63 survivors 57% were tested at 30 months of corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Mild or significant delays were seen on the mental development index in 68% of these cases and on the psychomotor development index in 58% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Morbidity and mortality rates and the rate of developmental delay among infants with birth weights between 500 and 750 g were significant.
Agustines
L A
LA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatal Associates, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, CA 90801, USA.
Lin
Y G
YG
Rumney
P J
PJ
Lu
M C
MC
Bonebrake
R
R
Asrat
T
T
Nageotte
M
M
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000150:complications; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000150:complications; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants