Korean J Perinatol.  2002 Dec;13(4):420-426.

Postnatal Body Weight Changes in Preterm SGA and Preterm AGA Infants on Fluid Restriction Therapy

• Yoon SW
• Namgung R
• Lee C

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the differences in water balance between preterm small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age(AGA) infants, we compared the difference in initial physiologic weight loss during the first five days of life and studied associated factors influencing the initial physiologic weight loss in preterm SGA and AGA infants.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed water and electrolyte balance in 51 preterm low birth weight infants of whom 20 were preterm SGA infants(gestational age, 30.4+/-1.6weeks:birth weight, 970+/-180g) and 31 preterm AGA infants(30+/-1.7 weeks:1437+/-276g) matched by gestation.
RESULTS
The percent weight loss was significantly lower in SGA than in AGA infants(p=0.01). The percent weight loss on the fifth day of life were 12.1+/-5.3% in SGA and 15.8+/-4.3% in AGA infants, respectively(p=<0.01). SGA infants had significantly lower urine output on the second and third day of life compared to AGA infants. Diuresis started on the second day of life in AGA infants and on the fifth day of life in SGA infants.
CONCLUSION
The initial physiologic weight loss in SGA infants occurred in a smaller degree compared with AGA infants. This was associated with lower urine volume and the delay in onset of diuresis in SGA infants. These differences in water balance in SGA and AGA infants should be considered in the management of preterm low birth weight infants on mechanical ventilation.

Keyword

Preterm; SGA infants; AGA infants; Initial physiologic weight loss; Diuresis

MeSH Terms

Body Weight Changes*
Body Weight*
Diuresis
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant*
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Respiration, Artificial
Retrospective Studies
Water-Electrolyte Balance
Weight Loss