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Aim: We investigated longitudinal adrenal androgen concentrations and any relationship between gestational age, birth size, anthropometric parameters and adrenal androgen concentrations during childhood in boys born moderate to late preterm.Methods: This longitudinal, prospective study included 58 boys born at 32+0 to 36+6 weeks of gestation. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and androstenedione were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and anthropometric data were recorded from 5 to 10 years of age.Results: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations correlated with weight standard deviations scores (SDS) from 7 to 10 years of age and waist-to-height ratios at seven and 10 years of age. Androstenedione correlated with weight SDS from 7 to 10 years of age and waist-to-height ratios at 10 years of age. Longitudinal analysis showed a relationship between weight SDS and waist-to-height SDS and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and androstenedione (p = 0.002 and p = 0.003, respectively), independently of age.Conclusion: The trajectories of anthropometric parameters and adrenal androgen secretion were consistent from 5 to 10 years of age in this cohort. The body composition reflected by current weight and the waist-to-height ratio, rather than gestational age and birth size, was associated with adrenal androgen secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The relationship between sex hormone concentrations during childhood and birth weight (BW) is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate this relationship and the associations with anthropometric data at 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 years of age in preterm boys. Design: A prospective longitudinal single‐centre study, including 58 boys with a BW of 1325–3320 g and gestational age (GA) of 32 + 2 to 36 + 6 weeks. Patients and Measurements: Data on GA, BW and anthropometric data between 5 and 10 years of age were recorded. Testicular development was assessed at 8 and 10 years of age. Serum concentrations of sex steroids were analysed with gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry at 5–10 years and luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) with immunoassays at 10 years of age. Results: At 8 years of age, testosterone and estrone correlated negatively with BW, (ρ = −0.35, p =.021) and (ρ = −0.34, p =.024), respectively. At 10 years of age, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone and estradiol correlated negatively with BW (ρ = −0.39, p =.010), (ρ = −0.38, p =.013), (ρ = −0.44, p =.003) and (ρ = −0.36, p =.019), respectively. Weight gain from birth correlated with testosterone at 5 years (ρ = 0.40, p =.002), 7 years (ρ = 0.30, p =.040), 8 years (ρ = 0.44, p =.003) and 10 years (ρ = 0.40, p =.008) of age. At 10 years of age, testosterone correlated with LH (ρ = 0.42, p =.006) and FSH (ρ = 0.33, p =.033) but not with testicular volume. Conclusions: Lower BW was associated with increased sex steroid concentrations from 8 years of age, independently of clinical signs of puberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate ophthalmological findings in preschool children born moderate-to- late preterm (MLP) and relate the findings to auxological data at birth and at 5.5 years of age. Methods Seventy-eight MLP children [gestational age (GA) 32-36 weeks; 34 girls; mean age 5.7 years] were investigated. Gestational age, weight, length and head circumference at birth and at the time of assessment were registered. Visual acuity (VA), refraction, orthoptic evaluation, slit-lamp examination and ophthalmoscopy were conducted, and a history of visuoperceptual problems was recorded. The data were compared with age- and sex-matched controls born full term ( n = 35). Results Ophthalmological abnormalities were noted in 82% of MLP children and 47% of controls (p = 0.0004). There was a significant difference with regard to impaired motility (p = 0.03), heterophoria at distance (p = 0.006) and refraction expressed as spherical equivalent dioptre (p = 0.01). Amongst auxological data at birth, birthweight (BW) was the strongest predictor to ophthalmological abnormalities (p = 0.0003). In a stepwise logistic regression, GA was the strongest predictor of VA outcome at time of assessment (p = 0.0036). Moderate-to-late preterm birth showed a 2.4-fold increased risk of refractive errors compared with full-term children (RR 2.39: 95% CI 1.10-5.20; p = 0.02). Conclusion Based on our findings, MLP birth may be associated with increased ocular morbidity compared with their full-term counterparts. Auxological data at birth, especially BW, seems to be an important factor when conducting an ophthalmological diagnosis in preschool MLP children, and an increased VA was correlated to a higher GA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]