Growth and endocrine function during school age in very low-birth weight infants.
BACKGROUND
Short stature and low bodyweight are commonly encountered problems in the clinical follow up of premature infants. However, details about the underlying pathophysiology are unknown in these cases.


METHODS
Evaluations of growth and endocrine function were performed in 23 very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants between 11.3 and 14.3 years of age.


RESULTS
The mean (+/-SD) scores for height and weight were -0.50+/-0.97 and -0.50+/-1.10 SD, respectively. Mean serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and urine growth hormone (GH) levels were 402+/-138 ng/mL and 18.0+/-17.5 pg/mg creatinine, respectively. Serum IGF-I and urine GH levels were within the normal range for all patients. The bone age values were consistent with the patient's true age. Physical signs of puberty were detected in 15 of 23 patients (65%). Using bone ages to predict final adult height yielded a score of -0.52+/-1.08 SD.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the almost normal results of serum IGF-I, urine GH levels and bone age, the physical growth of these VLBW infants was less than that of normal birth weight children, as was their predicted adult growth.
Takeuchi
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. ttake@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Tanaka
D
D
Saikawa
N
N
Satoh
H
H
Iwasaki
J
J
Inoue
M
M
Narui
K
K
Iikura
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone