title: Below median birth weight in appropriate-for-gestational-age preterm infants as a risk factor for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the presence of chorioamnionitis and intrauterine growth as prenatal risk factors for broncho pulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants of <28 weeks' gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gender, race, birth weight, gestational age, histology of the placenta, diagnosis of BPD at 36 weeks' gestation, postnatal dexamethasone treatment, and death were recorded in 150 preterm infants born at <28 weeks' gestation, and admitted between 1996 and 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 122 AGA infants (mean gestational age: 26.18 weeks, mean birth weight: 837 g), BPD was associated with gestational age-related birth weights below the 50(th) centile. Intrauterine growth deceleration started between 25 and 26 weeks' gestation. Chorioamnionitis was not related to BPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AGA infants of 26-28 weeks' gestation with birth weights below the median showed an increased risk of developing BPD.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Center, CBF, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany. gabi.kewitz@gmx.net
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kewitz
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wudel
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hopp
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hopfenmüller
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Ivar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roots
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone