title: Early urinary aldosterone excretion in very low birth weight infants.
abstract: HYPOTHESIS/ INTRODUCTION: In the neonatal period, many factors may interfere with aldosterone production but data currently available are few and controversial. In this study we aim to assess the early urinary aldosterone excretion (UAE) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to identify some possible clinical and biochemical variables that may influence this excretion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study in 30 VLBW infants. Aldosterone was measured in the first 72 hours of life in the urine and plasma and urinary electrolytes were determined. Demographic and clinical data were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exploratory analysis showed that a significant positive correlation exists between UAE and gestational age and birth weight and that infants with respiratory distress syndrome have higher urinary aldosterone levels than infants without respiratory distress, but only plasma sodium resulted a significant independent factor that negatively influenced UAE at linear regression analysis (coefficient -0.02, 95% confidence interval [-0.03; -0.004]; adjusted R(2) 0.33).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system of VLBW infants seems to be able, even immediately after birth, to respond to variations of plasma sodium concentrations; measurement of UAE constitutes an interesting method to determine aldosterone production, avoiding blood sampling in neonates so small and frail as VLBW infants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Agostino Gemelli-Catholic University Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. simocosta@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latella
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.forename: Mikael Ghennet
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tesfagabir
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallini
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone