title: Factors that affect the postnatal increase in superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocity in very low birth weight preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors related to the postnatal increase in superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocity (SMA BFV).
  
  
  METHODS
  SMA BFV was measured in 35 infants (birth weight 1047±246 g) on day of life (DOL) 1, 3, 5, 7 10 and 14. Latent curve modeling (LCM) was used to measure the longitudinal change in BFV for each subject, and the correlation between changes in BFV and baseline values. Non-parametric correlations were calculated between BFV and variables previously reported to be related to SMA BFV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant variability in SMA BFV on DOL 1, a significant increase from DOL 1-14, and significant variability in the postnatal increase. Infants with higher enteral feeding volumes had greater increases, while infants receiving positive pressure ventilation or hyperalimentation had lower increases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several clinical factors affect the postnatal increase in SMA BFV. The use of LCM is useful in longitudinal studies of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, who are clinically and demographically heterogeneous.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University-Pediatrics, 1465 South Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA. thavrane@slu.edu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Havranek
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miladinovic
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wadhawan
authors.forename: Jane D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Carver
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler