title: Intestinal blood flow by Doppler ultrasound: the impact of clarithromycin treatment for feeding intolerance in preterm neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the blood flow velocities of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) before versus after clarithromycin treatment for feeding intolerance in very low-birth weight infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted in a group of infant <1500 g with feeding intolerance who received clarithromycin 7.5 mg/kg/dose bid. Before and at the third day of the clarithromycin therapy, SMA blood flow velocity was measured with Doppler ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SMA peak systolic velocity (PSV) and mean systolic velocity (MV) on the third day of the treatment was found significantly higher than the initial measurement (p = 0.013 and p = 0.027, respectively). End diastolic velocity of the SMA did not change with clarithromycin therapy (p = 0.113). There were no significant changes about pulsatility and resistive index of SMA with regard to clarithromycin therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clarithromycin effects the splanchnic circulation. The rise in PSV and MV in SMA is remarkable. These results suggest that the splanchnic blood flow increases significantly after clarithromycin usage.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sancak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gursoy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topcuoglu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Guner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatekin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovalı
mesh_terms: D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019959:Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D017291:Clarithromycin
keywords: Clarithromycin; feeding intolerance; intestinal blood flow; neonate; preterm