title: Procollagen type I N-terminal peptide in preterm infants is associated with growth during the first six months post-term.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify growth-related collagen and bone parameters in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) preterm infants during the first six months post-term. In SGA preterm infants, increased growth and decreased bone acquisition, which we demonstrated previously, may be reflected by these markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study within a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three SGA (weight, length or both at birth <-2 SDS) and 98 AGA preterm infants (gestational age [median (IQR)]: 31·1 (1·6) vs 30·3 (2·0) weeks; 72·7% vs 42·9% boys).
  
  
  METHODS
  Weight (g), length (cm), procollagen type I N-terminal peptide (PINP; μg/l), urinary helical peptide (UHP; μg/mmol creatinine) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP; U/l) expressed as standard deviation scores (SDS) at term age, three and six months post-term.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight and length gain during the first six months post-term and PINP SDS at term age, three months and six months post-term were higher in SGA compared with AGA infants. UHP SDS and ALP SDS were similar in SGA and AGA infants. PINP SDS and UHP SDS at term age and PINP SDS at three months were associated with subsequent weight and length gain until six months post-term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased growth in SGA compared with AGA preterm infants is reflected by increased collagen type I synthesis during the first six months post-term, suggesting that PINP and UHP correspond with growth in preterm infants. An explanation for decreased bone acquisition of SGA preterm infants may be that increased collagen type I synthesis is not directly followed by increased bone mineralization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van de Lagemaat
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Veer
authors.forename: Mirjam M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Weissenbruch
authors.forename: Harrie N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Lafeber
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotteveel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C047202:procollagen Type I N-terminal peptide