[Retinopathy of prematurity and the "immaturity index"].

Goal: To find an index which enables one to differentiate any high risk premature newborn of developing a retinopathy of prematurity.

Method: Two groups of newborn are studied: 1) all the children under 2550 g at birth time and born between january 1979 and september 1987 and having had a diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity, 2) all the children who were examined by the author from october 1987 to july 1990.

Results: 33 of the 118 children studied suffered from a retinopathy of prematurity.

Renal handling of carnitine in ill preterm and term neonates.

Objective: To investigate the renal handling of carnitine in preterm and term ill neonates.

Methods: We studied the fractional tubular reabsorption of carnitine and the proximal renal tubular function of infants in the first week of life who were receiving very little or no carnitine in their diets.

Results: Mean plasma levels were low: total carnitine was 16.

Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of infants with anaemia of prematurity.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) was administered subcutaneously three times a week to 18 infants with the anaemia of prematurity at doses of 75, 150, 300, or 600 units/kg per week for 4 weeks, starting at 3-4 weeks of postnatal age. A significant and dose-dependent increase in reticulocyte count was observed from a mean baseline value of 71 x 10(9)/l to 200 x 10(9)/l after 3 weeks of therapy, compared with a change from 69 to 97 x 10(9)/l in 66 historical controls. The haematocrit value remained unchanged during rHuEPO treatment, whereas it steadily declined until 9 weeks of postnatal age in the controls.

Cord serum IgE and early detection of the atopic phenotype: suitable for routine screening?

Cord serum IgE has been shown to be a valuable marker for the prediction of atopy. Our study was designed to verify these findings for possible systematic screening recommendation. Our study consisted of 338 children who were followed from birth to 18 months.