Metabolic acidosis in the first 14 days of life in infants of gestation less than 26 weeks.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Bourchier D; NICU, Waikato Hospital, Pembroke St, Hamilton, New Zealand, david.bourchier@waikatodhb.health.nz.; Weston PJ
- Source
- Publisher: Springer Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 7603873 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1076 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03406199 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Eur J Pediatr Subsets: MEDLINE
- Subject
- Language
- English
Unlabelled: Extremely immature newborns develop a self-limiting normal anion gap metabolic acidosis in early life. This study examined the natural history of this acidosis in a population of infants of gestation less than 26 weeks in the first 14 days of life. The acidosis was maximal on day 4 with a mean base deficit of 10.6 mmol/l and had resolved in 90 % of infants by day 11. Dopamine usage was the only independent predictor of the acidosis. Its use was associated with a greater degree of acidosis.
Conclusion: Extremely preterm infants experience a self-limiting normal anion gap metabolic acidosis in the first 2 weeks of life which is consistent with renal tubular immaturity.