title: Metabolic acidosis in the first 14 days of life in infants of gestation less than 26 weeks.
abstract: Extremely immature newborns develop a self-limiting normal anion gap metabolic acidosis in early life. This study examined the natural history of this acidosis in a population of infants of gestation less than 26 weeks in the first 14 days of life. The acidosis was maximal on day 4 with a mean base deficit of 10.6 mmol/l and had resolved in 90 % of infants by day 11. Dopamine usage was the only independent predictor of the acidosis. Its use was associated with a greater degree of acidosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extremely preterm infants experience a self-limiting normal anion gap metabolic acidosis in the first 2 weeks of life which is consistent with renal tubular immaturity.
authors: NICU, Waikato Hospital, Pembroke St, Hamilton, New Zealand, david.bourchier@waikatodhb.health.nz.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Bourchier
authors: Philip John
authors: PJ
authors: Weston
mesh_terms: D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D004298:Dopamine