Delay of catch-up growth in very low birthweight infants.

AIM: To determine if appropriate for gestational age, very low birth weight infants demonstrate catch-up growth.

METHODS

The notes of 74 appropriate for gestational age, very low birth weight infants were reviewed and anthropometric measures converted into standard deviation scores (Z-scores). The growth of "well" infants was compared with that of "unwell" infants (those who developed necrotising enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or were not feeding at one week of age).

RESULTS

All infants showed reduced weight (p<0.001) and head circumference (p<0.01) Z-scores at one week of age. This persisted until 35 weeks postmenstrual age in both groups, by which time length Z-scores had also reduced. The well group had regained birth Z-scores for all measurements by three months post-term. However the unwell group still had significantly lower weight (p<0.01) and length (p<0.05) Z-scores at three months.

CONCLUSIONS

Well very low birth weight infants regained their birth percentiles by three months post-term. In infants with significant neonatal illness, this recovery was delayed.