Preventive Effect of Bifidobacterium Supplementation on Neonatal Cholestasis in Preterm Neonates with Very Low Birth Weight

Background. Cholestasis is a common but serious clinical condition in preterm neonates. The current management for preterm neonatal cholestasis has limitations. The aim of this study was to determine effects of Bifidobacterium supplementation on the prevention and alleviation of cholestasis in preterm infants with very low birth weight. Methods. Preterm neonates with very low birth weight were enrolled in the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University between December 2012 and December 2017. The patients were randomly assigned into Bifidobacterium and control groups, and effects of Bifidobacterium supplementation on the outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics in the two groups. Notably, the proportion of cases with neonatal cholestasis was significantly lower, with fewer neonatal cholestasis-associated complications in the Bifidobacterium group compared with the control group (6% versus 22%, P<0.01). Furthermore, the Bifidobacterium group exhibited less severe cholestasis and better improvement of the liver function than the control group as evidenced by the biochemical tests (P<0.05). Finally, comparison of the other outcomes revealed that significant shorter duration of hospitalization (14.45±2.13 versus 16.12±2.22 days, P<0.01), fewer days to reach the full enteral feeding (9.2±2.11 versus 12±5.67 days, P<0.01), shorter duration of meconium passage (5.0±3.6 versus 6.6±3.38 days, P<0.05), lower proportion of cases on fasting and duration of fasting (0.8% versus 5.6%, P<0.05 and 3.0±1.6 versus 5.6±2.38 days, P<0.01, respectively), and shorter duration of weight gain to normal (4.77±2.49 versus 6.87±2.71 days, P<0.01) in the Bifidobacterium group versus the control group. Conclusions. Bifidobacterium supplementation has significantly preventive and other beneficial effects on the management of cholestasis in preterm infants with very low birth weight. Its long-term safety and effectiveness will need further investigation. This trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022296).

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Risk Factors for Germinal Matrix Haemorrhage-Intraventricular Haemorrhage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

ACTA MEDICA IRANICA ◽

10.18502/acta.v59i7.7021 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Abdollah Dehvari ◽

Mahmoud Imani ◽

Ebrahim Abdollahi ◽

Reza Behmadi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Apgar Score ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Preterm Neonates ◽

Control Group ◽

Germinal Matrix ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Minute Apgar Score

Germinal matrix hemorrhage-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) mainly occurs in preterm neonates and is an important cause of brain injury in them. In this retrospective cross-sectional study from march 2017 to march 2018 in our teaching hospitals, we investigated 250 newborns who were admitted to NICU with a birth weight under 1500 grams with ultrasonographic study for presence and grade of GMH-IVH in their first week of life. Risk factors for GMH-IVH were collected from their records and results been analyzed with SPSS software. From 250 neonates who had inclusion criteria of the study, 22 cases had GMH-IVH in ultrasonographic evaluation. 37.6% of all cases and 31.8% of newborns with GMH-IVH had a 5-minute APGAR score of less than six. 91 cases (39.9%) of the control group and 15 cases (68.1%) of the GMH-IVH group need resuscitation at birth. Of 250 cases 54 (21.6%) died, that 14 cases (63.6%) had GMH-IVH. Our study shows significant differences for birth weight, 5 minute APGAR score, and the need for resuscitation at birth as risk factors for the development of GMH-IVH in very low birth weight neonates, but we do not find a significant difference group in terms of gestational age, gender, route of delivery, fetal presentation, maternal parity, CBC parameters, sepsis, RDS, endotracheal tube suctioning and multiple pregnancies for them. In our study, the protective value for antenatal steroid therapy depends on the completion of the course of treatment for mothers.

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Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Stimulates Erythropoiesis and Reduces Erythrocyte Transfusions in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.95.1.1 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 95 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Kevin M. Shannon ◽

Julian F. Keith ◽

William C. Mentzer ◽

Richard A. Ehrenkranz ◽

Mark S. Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Placebo Group ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Recombinant Human Erythropoietin ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Group Versus ◽

Weekly Dose ◽

Human Erythropoietin ◽

Transfusion Requirements

Design and methods. We hypothesized that treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) would stimulate erythropoiesis and would thereby reduce the need for erythrocyte transfusions in preterm infants. We treated 157 preterm infants born at 26.9 ± 1.6 weeks of gestation who weighed 924 ± 183 g at birth with either subcutaneous r-HuEPO (100 U/kg/d, 5 days per week) or placebo for 6 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. All patients received oral iron and were managed according to uniform conservative transfusion guidelines. Results. Treatment with r-HuEPO was associated with fewer erythrocyte transfusions (1.1 ± 1.5 per infant in the r-HuEPO group versus 1.6 ± 1.7 per infant in the placebo group; P = .046) and with a reduction in the volume of packed erythrocytes transfused (16.5 ± 23.0 mL versus 23.9 ± 25.7 mL per infant; P = .023). Overall, 43% of the infants in the r-HuEPO group and 31% of placebo-treated infants were transfusion-free during the study (P = .18). The volume of blood removed for laboratory tests and the need for respiratory support at the start of treatment had major effects on transfusion requirements independent of r-HuEPO. Reticulocyte counts were higher during treatment in the r-HuEPO group (P = .0001), and r-HuEPO-treated infants had higher hematocrit values at the end of the study (32% versus 27.3% in the placebo group; P = .0001). We found no differences in the incidence of major complications of prematurity between the treatment groups. Conclusion. We conclude that treatment with r-HuEPO at a weekly dose of 500 U/kg stimulates erythropoiesis, moderates the course of anemia, is associated with a reduction in erythrocyte transfusions, and appears safe in very low birth weight preterm infants who are receiving iron supplements. Conservative transfusion criteria, minimization of phlebotomy losses, and treatment with r-HuEPO are complementary strategies to reduce erythrocyte transfusions in these infants.

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Routine Administration of a Multispecies Probiotic Containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus to Very Low Birth Weight Infants Had No Significant Impact on the Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Frontiers in Pediatrics ◽

10.3389/fped.2021.757299 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Brian A. Juber ◽

Timothy J. Boly ◽

Graeme J. Pitcher ◽

Steven J. McElroy

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Vlbw Infants ◽

Routine Administration ◽

Significant Difference ◽

All Cause Mortality

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of gastrointestinal morbidity in preterm infants, and prevention and treatment strategies have remained largely unchanged over the past several decades. As understanding of the microbiome has increased, probiotics have been hypothesized as a possible strategy for decreasing rates of NEC, and several studies have noted significant decreases in rates of NEC after initiation of probiotics in preterm infants. However, a recent AAP report cited caution on the use of probiotic use in part because studies of probiotic use in ELBW infants are lacking. As our unit began routine use of probiotics for all infants <33 weeks in 2015 and we are a leading institution for intact survival of ELBW infants, we attempted to answer if probiotic use can impact the rate of NEC in VLBW and ELBW infants.Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective chart review of infants with modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC for the 4 years prior to and 5 years after initiation of a protocol involving routine supplementation of a multispecies probiotic to premature infants at the University of Iowa, Stead Family Children's Hospital. The primary outcome measures were rates of modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC and all-cause pre-discharge mortality at our institution before and after initiation of routine probiotic supplementation in 2015.Results: In our institution, neither the rates of modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC, nor the rates of all-cause mortality were significantly altered in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants by the initiation of routine probiotic use (NEC rates pre-probiotic 2.1% vs. post-probiotic 1.5%; all-cause mortality rates pre-probiotic 8.4% vs. post-probiotic 7.4%). Characteristics of our two cohorts were overall similar except for a significantly lower 5-minute APGAR score in infants in the post-probiotic epoch (pre-probiotic 8 vs. post-probiotic 6 p = 0.0316), and significantly more infants in the post-probiotic epoch received probiotics (pre-probiotics 0% vs. post-probiotics 65%; p < 0.0001). Similarly, probiotic use had no impact on the incidence of NEC when we restricted our data to only extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (pre-probiotics 1.6% vs post-probiotics 4.1%). When we restricted our analysis to only inborn infants, probiotics still had no impact on NEC rates in VLBW infants (1.5% pre- and 1.1% post-probiotic, p = 0.61) or ELBW infants (2% pre- and 2.1% post-probiotic, p = 0.99)Conclusions: Contrary to other studies, we found no significant difference in rates of modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC or all-cause pre-discharge mortality in VLBW infants following routine administration of a multispecies probiotic supplement.

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Comparison of Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants with And Without Experienced Target Weight Gain on The Administration of Human Milk Fortifier

Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research ◽

10.14710/jbtr.v6i3.9061 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 79-85

Author(s):

Diondra Eka Rizkiawan ◽

Adhie Nur Radityo ◽

Rina Pratiwi ◽

Kusmiyati Tjahjono

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Human Milk ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Control Group ◽

Characteristic Difference ◽

Human Milk Fortifier

Background: Human milk fortifier (HMF) is defined as a supplement added to breastmilk to increase calories, proteins, vitamins, and various nutrition of breastmilk. The purpose of HMF administration is to increase the concentration of breastmilk nutrients to improve the weight of very low birth weight preterm infants. The administration of HMF is insufficient to fulfill protein needs in 20-40% very low birth weight babies, thus the weight gain did not meet the expected target.Objective: To analyze characteristic differences between very low birth weight preterm infants who experienced weight gain according to the target and not according to the target on the administration of HMF.Methods: An analytical study with a case-control approach comparing case and control group, which was observed to determine characteristic differences between both groups. The samples were 52 very low birth weight preterm infants obtained by consecutive sampling. Data analysis includes descriptive analysis and hypothesis testing. Results: Data were obtained from medical records and consisted of 52 participants, including 26 very low birth weight premature infants who experienced weight gain according to the target and 26 who experienced weight gain not according to the target. There was no characteristic difference of cyanosis clinical symptoms (OR 2.3; 95% CI 0.51-10.4), chest retraction (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.32-3.1), apnea of prematurity comorbid (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.25-3.9), neonatal infections (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.21-1.9), starting age of HMF administration (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.21-1.89), bloating (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.17-1.9), and vomiting (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.38-3.7) in both groups.Conclusion: There was no characteristic difference between very low birth weight preterm infants who experienced weight gain according to the target and not according to the target on the administration of HMF.

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Second Trimester Amniocentesis Is Not a Risk Factor for Very Low Birth Weight and Extremely Low Birth Weight

ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.5402/2011/313206 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Vincenzo Mazza ◽

Mariangela Pati ◽

Emma Bertucci ◽

Carlotta Cani ◽

Silvia Latella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Group Versus ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Control Group ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Odds Ratios ◽

Study Population

Objectives. To assess the risk of very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) attributable to second trimester amniocentesis. Methods. Records of 4,877 consecutive amniocentesis, performed between 1997 and 2003, were analyzed. Only VLBW and ELBW in the study population (exposed) and in the control group (unexposed) were evaluated. Comparisons were made between the amniocentesis group versus nonexposed. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for VLBW and ELBW classes. Results. In the study population, the VLBW were 35 (0.71%) and the ELBW were 20 (0.41%). In the control group, the VLBW were 220 (0.67%) and the ELBW were 112 (0.34%). The Odds ratios of the VLBW between the study and the control group did not show any statistical significant risk (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.72–1.54). Also in ELBW odds ratios between study and control group were not statistically significant (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.7–1.95). Conclusions. No effect of the second trimester amniocentesis was noted on VLBW and ELBW.

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An Observational Study on Use of Intravenous Paracetamol for Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Newborns

Nepal Mediciti Medical Journal ◽

10.3126/nmmj.v2i1.37216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 18-21

Author(s):

Diwas Dhungana ◽

Manish Shrestha ◽

Suchita Joshi

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Patent Ductus Arteriosus ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Ductus Arteriosus ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Preterm Neonates ◽

Intravenous Paracetamol ◽

Patent Ductus

Introduction: Failure or delay in spontaneous closure of ductus arteriosus is commonly seen among very low birth weight and very preterm neonates (<32 weeks), results in patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Hemodynamically significant PDA (hs-PDA) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not timely intervened. At present, treatment modalities for hs- PDA remain pharmacological with nonspecific cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors such as ibuprofen/indomethacin or surgical ligation whenever pharmacological management is contraindicated. Recently, trials with prostaglandin synthase inhibitor, paracetamol are emerging as an effective treatment modality for PDA closure. In this retrospective observational cohort study, we evaluated the effectiveness of intravenous paracetamol as a first line therapy in very low birth weight infants with hemodynamically significant PDA. Methods: Twenty four preterm infants with hemodynamically significant PDA (hs-PDA) were treated with intravenous paracetamol 15mg/kg every 6 hourly and subsequent closure was evaluated clinically and by follow-up 2D-Echocardiography. The dosage of 15 mg/kg for IV paracetamol was chosen based on previously reported data for paracetamol in the treatment of PDA in preterm newborns. Results: PDA closure following intravenous paracetamol was evident in 22 preterm neonates (91.67%). There were no significant side effects noted with paracetamol therapy. Conclusions: This study concludes that intravenous paracetamol is an effective alternative for the pharmacological closure of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

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Packed Cell Transfusion and Feeding Tolerance in Healthy Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Tria

Iranian Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.5812/ijp.110275 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol In Press (In Press) ◽

Author(s):

Minoo Fallahi ◽

Mohammad Kazemian ◽

Saeed Hojat Kashani ◽

Saleheh Tajalli ◽

Naeeme Taslimi

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Preterm Neonates ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Packed Cell Transfusion ◽

Feeding Tolerance

Background: Recently, the correlation between necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and packed cell transfusion (PCT) has been identified. Evidence shows that 25 - 35% of NEC cases are associated with PCT. Objectives: this study aimed to determine the association between PCT and feeding tolerance in healthy preterm newborns. Methods: Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed on preterm infants, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Mofid Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from April 2017 to May 2018. A total of 70 healthy premature infants (birth weight < 1500 g and gestational age < 32 weeks) with enteral feeding, who required PCT, were included in this study. The eligible infants were divided into two groups by simple randomization. In the intervention group (n = 35), breastfeeding was withheld only during PCT and then continued as usual. On the other hand, in the control group (n = 35), feeding was performed as usual, regardless of PCT. Feeding tolerance within the first 72 hours post-transfusion was compared between the two groups. Sick newborns were excluded from the study. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20. Results: The mean gestational age, birth weight, and postnatal age of the neonates were 30.13 weeks, 1245.71 g, and 17 days in the intervention group and 29.97 weeks, 1169.43 g, and 15.46 days in the control group, respectively; there was no significant difference between the two groups. Except for pre-transfusion hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, other characteristics of the two groups were similar. Feeding tolerance was reported in 32 (91.2%), 33 (94.73%), and 34 (97.1%) newborns at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-transfusion in both groups, without any significant difference. There was no significant difference between neonates with and without feeding tolerance in either of the groups. Conclusions: According to the present results, withholding feeding during PCT is not necessary in healthy preterm neonates with a good general condition, and continued breastfeeding seems to be a safe option.

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Impact of Early Empiric Antibiotic Regimens on the Gut Microbiota in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants: An Observational Study

Frontiers in Pediatrics ◽

10.3389/fped.2021.651713 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Hung-Yang Chang ◽

Jen-Shiu Chiang Chiau ◽

Yu-Hsuan Ho ◽

Jui-Hsing Chang ◽

Kun-Nan Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Observational Study ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Shannon Index ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Over Time

Frequent use of antibiotics in preterm infants disturbs their gut microbial balance. In this preliminary observational study, we investigated the effect of different antibiotic regimens, administered during the first week of life, on microbial composition and diversity in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. We performed fecal sampling of breastfed VLBW infants on days 7, 14, and 30. After excluding stool samples from infants who received probiotics or who were administered antibiotics beyond the age of 7 days, we compared gut microbiota profiles between infants receiving a combination of ampicillin and gentamicin for 3 days (AG group, n = 10) and those receiving a combination of ampicillin and cefotaxime for 7 days (AC group, n = 14) using 16S ribosomal DNA community profiling. We also assessed the changes over time in each group. Compared to the AG group, Enterococcus species were significantly more abundant in the AC group (P = 0.002), especially in 7-day samples (12.3 vs. 0.6%, respectively, P = 0.032). No difference was observed at phylum and genus level over time within each group. Species richness in the AC group decreased significantly in the 14-day (P = 0.038) and 30-day (P = 0.03) samples compared to that in the 7-day sample. The same was observed for microbial evenness; in contrast, no significant difference in Shannon index and beta-diversity was detected between the two groups. Controlling for relevant confounding variables did not change the results. In conclusion, different antibiotic regimens affect the early development of gut microbiota in VLBW preterm infants. Prolonged use of ampicillin and cefotaxime might result in overabundance of Enterococcus. However, given that no significant differences were observed in 1-month samples, bacterial genera appear to continue colonizing the gastrointestinal tract despite previous exposure to antibiotics. The clinical relevance of these findings should be elucidated by further studies.

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