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Objective: To know the association of abdominal ultrasound findings in preterm newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis. Method: Transverse, analytical study, patients with necrotizing enterocolitis abdominal ultrasound was performed: free fluid, large wall more than 2.5 mm, small bowel wall less than 1.1 mm, gas in portal vein, intestinal pneumatosis, decreased and/or absence of peristalsis, increase and/or absence of intestinal blood infusion. Chi square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to establish association ultrasound findings and necrotizing enterocolitis, alpha level < 0.05, SPSS v.23.0 program. Results: 37 patients. IA stage: small intestine wall less than 1.1 mm with a total of 15 (40%), 13 (35%) decreased peristalsis 11 (29%), absence of peristalsis 8 (21.62%). IB stage: free liquid, increased blood infusion 2 (5%). IIA stage: peristalsis decreased 7 (18%), small intestine wall less than 1.1 mm 4 (10%), free liquid 3 (8%), pneumatosis 2 (5%), absent blood infusion 1 (2%). IIIA stage: 1 (2%) free liquid, thinning of small intestine wall less than 1.1 mm, absence of peristalsis and blood infusion. Conclusion: There is an association of ultrasonographic findings in patients with necrotizing enterocolitis. Most frequent finding: small bowel wall less than 1.1 mm, free fluid, decreased peristalsis. It would be important to implement it as a diagnostic method in all cases for medical and surgical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroids have been used for more than 20 years in preterm infants to induce pulmonary maturity; however, some long-term effects have been reported, such as insulin resistance and elevation of blood pressure. The aim of our study was to compare renal volume, renal function, and blood pressure in infants between 12-36 months of age with and without antecedent of antenatal steroid treatment. This was a cross-sectional study comprised of three groups of infants ( n = 30, respectively): preterm infants with and without antecedent of receiving antenatal steroids, respectively, and full-term infants. Blood pressure, renal volume, glomerular filtration rate, and tubular function were measured. Blood pressure and cystatin C levels and glomerular filtration rate were higher in both groups of preterm infants than in the control group ( p < 0.01). However, no difference in any of the tested variables between the steroid and non-steroid group of preterm infants. Renal volume was similar in preterm and control infants. Based on these results, we conclude that prematurity independent of antenatal steroid use is associated with higher cystatin C and blood pressure levels and a higher glomerular filtration rate in infants between 12-36 months of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]