Effect of dexamethasone therapy on serum vitamin E concentrations in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of dexamethasone therapy on serum vitamin E concentrations in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.


METHODS
A total of 10, 24 to 29 weeks' gestational age, infants enrolled in a prospective study designed to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on lipid intolerance were eligible for the study. Eight of these 10 infants had serum vitamin E concentrations measured simultaneously with serum triglyceride concentrations before the start of dexamethasone therapy (baseline) and within 5 days of the initiation of dexamethasone therapy. Charts were reviewed for vitamin E intake at baseline and on dexamethasone therapy for each of these eight infants.


RESULTS
All eight infants had physiological serum vitamin E concentrations (1 to 3 mg/dl) at baseline, while six of eight infants had pharmacological serum vitamin E concentrations (> or =3 mg/dl) on dexamethasone therapy. All infants with an increase in serum vitamin E concentration also had a simultaneous increase in serum triglyceride concentrations with a significant correlation between vitamin E and triglyceride concentrations (Spearman's rho=0.92). There was a significant difference in mean serum vitamin E concentration between baseline and post-dexamethasone therapy (P=0.01, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test). There was no significant difference in vitamin E intake between baseline and post-dexamethasone therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone therapy in premature infants induces significant increase in serum vitamin E concentrations to pharmacological levels independent of vitamin E intake.
Amin
Sanjiv B
SB
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital at Strong University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
Laroia
Nirupama
N
Sinkin
Robert A
RA
Kendig
James W
JW
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014280:Triglycerides; D014810:Vitamin E; D003907:Dexamethasone