Sequential bone mineral content in small preterm infants with and without fractures and rickets
Seventy-four infants with birth weights 1009 +/- 28 grams and gestational age 28.6 +/- 0.3 weeks (M +/- SEM) were studied prospectively to test the hypotheses that bone mineral content (BMC) measured by photon absorptiometry, would be: (1) lower in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with radiographic evidence of fractures and/or rickets (F/R), and (2) will continue to be lower over the first year when compared to VLBW infants without F/R. BMC and bone width (BW) of the distal one-third of left radius and ulna were measured at 5 weeks (n = 8), 14 weeks (n = 61), 26 weeks (n = 58), 40 weeks (n = 59), and 1 year (n = 52). Standardized radiographs of both forearms, and weight, length, and head circumference were also determined at each study age. Investigators and technicians involved in the photon absorptiometry measurements were unaware of the radiographic findings and vice versa. Twenty-three of 74 infants were found to have F/R. BMC of studied infants remained markedly below our previously determined range of intrauterine bone mineralization, even at 26 weeks after birth. There was no significant difference in BMC or BW between infants with and without F/R, either at the time of confirmation of F/R or during early follow-up; however, BMC was lower at greater than or equal to 6 months and BW was lower at greater than or equal to 9 months in infants with F/R. We suggest that the extremely low BMC measurements in early infancy predispose all VLBW infants to fractures and rickets.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6406065
- Journal Information:
- J. Bone Miner. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bone Miner. Res.; (United States) Vol. 3:2; ISSN JBMRE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
550602 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AGE GROUPS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BONE FRACTURES
CHILDREN
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
IMAGE PROCESSING
INFANTS
INJURIES
MEDICINE
METABOLIC DISEASES
MINERALS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PHOTON EMISSION SCANNING
PROCESSING
RADIOLOGY
RICKETS
SKELETAL DISEASES
SKELETON
WEIGHT