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Objective: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome-like symptoms in a population of preterm infants with very low birth weight (

Objective: To determine risk factors during neonatal hospital stay and follow-up associated with failure to thrive in the first year of life of very low birth weight newborns. Methods: Study of preterm very low birth weight newborns followed from 2006 to 2013 in a public institutional hospital program. The study included newborns that attended at least one appointment in each of the three periods: Period I, up to 3 months of corrected age (CA); Period II, 4–6 months of CA; and Period III, 7–12 months of CA. The variables were analyzed by logistic regression with XLSTAT 2014 software (Microsoft®, WA, USA). Failure to thrive (Z-score below −2 SD) was classified as a dichotomous dependent variable (0 – failure/1 – success), while the other variables were classified as explanatory variables for the hospitalization periods and for each of the follow-up periods (I, II, and III). Results: Children born adequate for gestational age increased the chance of Z-score for weight at discharge > −2 SD (OR = 10.217; 95% CI: 1.117–93.436). Metabolic bone disease and retinopathy of prematurity in Period I, as well as hospital readmissions in Periods II and III during follow-up increased the chance of Z-score

Information on leukocyte activation in newborn infants of preeclamptic mothers is scarce. IL-8 and GRO-α are the main pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in leukocyte activation. The objective was to evaluate IL-8 and GRO-α plasma levels in preterm newborns infants of preeclamptic mothers. Newborns with gestational age36 weeks and birth weight2000 g were included and divided: non-preeclamptic (n=64) and preeclamptic groups (n=55). Exclusion criteria were major congenital malformations, inborn errors of metabolism or chromosomal anomalies, congenital infections, death in delivery room, and maternal chronic hypertension without preeclampsia. IL-8 and GRO-α were measured by enzyme immunoassay in the first 48 h. Groups were similar in birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores at 5 min, sepsis, RDS, mechanical ventilation, TPN, NEC, intraventricular hemorrhage and death. The preeclamptic group had more neutropenia, SGA, cesarean section, and less rupture of membranes18 h. IL-8 was higher in the non-preeclamptic [157.1 pg/mL (86.4-261.3) and 26.54 pg/mL (3.6-87.2) p0.001]. GRO-α levels were similar in both groups [229.5 pg/mL (116.6-321.3) and 185.5 pg/mL (63.9-306.7) p=0.236]. After multiple regression analysis only absence of preeclampsia was associated with high IL-8 levels. Our data suggest that leukocyte activation may be impaired in infants of preeclamptic mothers.

Controversy exists regarding association of high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, neonatal morbidities and poor neurodevelopment outcome in very low birth weight infants.To determine association between severity of early inflammatory response and neurodevelopment outcome in high risk very low birth weight infants.Sixty-two very preterm infants with high risk for early-onset sepsis were followed up to 24 months corrected age. Blood sample was collected for IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α analysis. Neurodevelopment outcome by Bayley Scales of Infant Development II was assessed at 22 to 24 months. Magnetic Resonance Image was performed at least once during the first 12 months.In 24 (38.7%) MDI was85, and 16 (25.8%) had PDI85. Low birth weight was significantly associated with low MDI, and birth weight and periventricular leukomalacia were significantly associated with low PDI by multiple regression analysis. After controlling for birth weight and gestational age, none of the studied variables was associated with low MDI, and only periventricular leukomalacia with low PDI. Each additional 100g in the birth weight reduced the probability of low MDI and PDI scores in 14%.There was no association of high cytokines plasma levels with poor neurodevelopment outcome at 22 to 24 months' corrected age, suggesting that elevations of plasma proinflammatory cytokines early in life do not play an important role in pathophysiology of brain injury in high risk preterm infants.