[Postnatal growth up to 2 years of corrected age in a cohort of very low birth weight infants].
OBJECTIVE
To study postnatal somatic growth up to 2 years of corrected postnatal age (CPA) in a cohort of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) in our unit, according to their intrauterine growth status at birth.


METHODS
We performed an observational follow-up study of postnatal growth in a cohort of VLBWI (birth weight < 1,500 g) attended from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1999. Weight, length, and head circumference were assessed at birth and again at 2 years CPA. Infants were classified as small-for-gestational age (SGA) if weight was below 2 standard deviations (SD) of the reference population mean.


RESULTS
The cohort consisted of 260 VLBWI (18.5% SGA). Mean gestational age (SD) was 29 (2.7) weeks, weight was 1,150 (223) g, length was 37.4 (2.7) cm, and head circumference was 27 (1.8) cm. At birth Z-scores were -0.82, -0.92 and -0.8 for weight, length and head circumference. The corresponding mean Z scores at 2 years' CPA were -1.44, -1.49 and -0.31. At 2 years' CPA, more SGA infants still had a weight below the 3rd percentile than those with normal birthweight (26% vs. 16%). SGA infants had a higher daily weight increase during their hospital stay (27.5 vs. 21.2 g/day, p > 0.5). Gender did not significantly influence the growth pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight showed the lowest postnatal increase, particularly in infants < 1,000 g. Head circumference showed the greatest catch-up growth pattern, almost reaching the mean for the general population by 2 years' CPA. Growth retardation in SGA continued up to 2 years' CPA.
de Carlos Castresana
Y
Y
Unidad Neonatal, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Cruces, Universidad del País Vasco, Vizcaya, España.
Castro Laiz
C
C
Centeno Monterrubio
C
C
Martín Vargas
L
L
Cotero Lavín
A
A
Valls i Soler
A
A
D000886:Anthropometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*