Bone Development during the First Year of Life in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Overview

Introduction:
In a previous study using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in very low birth weight(VLBW) infants at forty weeks of postconceptional age we still found low bone mineralisation.Objective: We studied bone development during the first year of life and investigated whether the mode ofsupplementation is satisfactory.Results: 25 VLBW infants were examined. Osteoporosis was common but severe forms of osteopathy ofprematurity were not found on clinical, laboratory and X-ray examination. A considerable increase of bone densitywas revealed by DXA during a 6 month’s period.Conclusions: 1. VLBW and ELBW infants still have at 40 weeks of postconceptional age a markedly lowermineral bone density despite mineral supplementation. However, supplementation prevents development of severeforms of osteopathy: deformations, bone fractures, linear growth deficit. 2. During 6 months following dischargebone density increased considerably although it was still below normal values. 3. There were no signs of ricketsin any child after the 6-month period. 4. Body length at 6 months of corrected age was slightly below normal lengthof full-term infants but the growth was higher than in full-term infants. 5. Further studies of bone developmentin VLBW children are needed.

Key words:
VLBW infants, bone development