ESPE Abstracts

Background: Osteopenia of prematurity (OOP) is serious but common concerns for parents of premature babies. Reduced bone mineralization results in OOP, or low bone density. The incidence of OOP has increased as a result of medical advancements that have allowed more very low birth weight (VLBW) infants to survive. It is inversely proportional to the intrauterine gestational age (GA).

Objective: to study the risk factors and best biochemical marker to predict OOP.

Patients and Methods: Forty preterm infants with GA < 36 weeks and postnatal age > 6 weeks were recruited from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Zagazig University Hospitals. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), ALP, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and vitamin D were measured during the first six postnatal weeks. Wrist and arm radiography was done for all patients.

Results: Statistically significant difference regarding age at reaching full enteral feed, furosemide uses, corticosteroid use, blood or plasma transfer and phototherapy in osteopenic infants compared with non-osteopenic infants (P<0.005). Using the statistically significant univariate variables, a multivariate multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted, and ALP was found to be the only factor independently associated with neonatal osteopenia.

Conclusion: serum ALP is the best marker to predict OOP and risk factors should be avoided to protect the growing bone of preterm babies.