title: Population meta-analysis of low plasma glucose thresholds in full-term normal newborns.
abstract: There is extreme variation in the definition of low plasma glucose levels in newborn infants in the first postnatal days, ranging from < 30 to < or = 60 mg/dL. The goal of the present study was to define low thresholds (< or = 5th percentile) of plasma glucose concentrations in full-term normal newborns during the first 72 hours of life. Population meta-analysis was performed on published studies of neonatal hypoglycemia ascertained by MedLine search. One-way analysis of variance was computed across the studies for each of the following four postnatal time periods: 1 to 2 (physiological nadir), 3 to 23, 24 to 47, and 48 to 72 hours. The estimated < or = 5th percentiles of neonatal hypoglycemia during 1 to 2, 3 to 23, 24 to 47, and 48 to 72 hours after birth were < or = 28, < or = 40, < or = 41, and < or = 48 mg/dL, respectively. Based on this statistical definition, we recommend that low thresholds of plasma glucose levels of 28, 40, and 48 mg/dL be adopted in full-term normal newborns at 1 to 2, 3 to 47, and 48 to 72 hours of life, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Ahmanson Pediatric Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Arie L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Alkalay
authors.forename: Harvey B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sarnat
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flores-Sarnat
authors.forename: Janet D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Elashoff
authors.forename: Sergio J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Farber
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D047929:Term Birth
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose