The use of quantitative ultrasound in assessing bone status in newborn preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
Quantitative ultrasound is increasingly used to assess bone status in adults and children; however, few studies have been carried out in neonates. Our objective was to determine if tibial bone speed of sound (SOS) correlates with gestational age and birth anthropometrics, and if bone SOS is related to maternal factors.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 95 preterm infants to assess factors related to bone status as measured by quantitative ultrasound.


RESULTS
We found significant (p< or =0.001) positive correlations between SOS and gestational age, birth weight, length, head circumference and tibial length. There was no significant relationship between SOS and prenatal steroid use, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, race or parity.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative ultrasound is an easy to use and inexpensive tool for assessing bone status in preterm neonates. Tibial SOS correlated with gestational age and birth anthropometrics, and was not related by few maternal factors.
Pereda
Lourdes
L
University of South Florida College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
Ashmeade
Terri
T
Zaritt
Judy
J
Carver
Jane D
JD
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography