196 Bone profile in low birth weight babies: what we learn

BackgroundBone profile in low birth weight (LBW) babies is important for monitoring of metabolic bone disease(MBD). MBD is a clinically heterogeneous group of disease with commonly reversible clinical presentation and manifestation when the underlying defect has been treated.ObjectivesThis study was aimed to find out biochemical profile in LBW babies and association between bone profile and gestational age of LBW.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was done in all LBW infants at 8 weeks of age within one year period. Infants with less than 28 weeks of gestation, infants with insufficient perinatal records and those with suspicion of renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal and thyroid diseases were excluded.ResultsTotal 60 LBW (45 preterm and 15 small for gestational age, SGA) babies were included. Biochemical parameters of bone profile were shown in table 1. Sixteen babies (26.7%) were found MBD, comprising 68.7% of preterm and 31.3% of SGA infants. The mean serum calcium level was not statistically significant (table2) whereas mean serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly different between low birth weight infants with MBD and those without MBD (table 3 & 4).Abstract 196 Table 1Biochemical parameters of LBW Variables Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum Calcium(mg/dl) 7.12 0.524 8.28 10.96 Phosphate(mg/dl) 2.41 0.722 1.85 11.64 Alkaline phosphatase(IU/L) 400 16 100 700 Abstract 196 Table 2Association between serum calcium and gestational age of LBW Calcium Gestational age(week) Total(%) Chi-square p-value 28–31(%) 31–34(%) 34–37(%) 37–40(%) Low 25 31.25 31.25 12.5 100 3.63 0.727 Normal 12.2 26.82 36.58 24.4 100 High 33.3 0 33.3 33.4 100 Abstract 196 Table 3Association between serum phosphate and gestational age of LBW Phosphate Gestational age(week) Total(%) Chi-square p-value 28–31(%) 31–34(%) 34–37(%) 37–40(%) Low 50 12.5 12.5 25 100 35.828 0.000 Normal 27.77 0 72.23 0 100 High 2.9 44.11 20.59 32.4 100 Abstract 196 Table 4Association between serum alkaline phosphatase and gestational age of LBW Alkaline phosphatase Gestational age(week) Total(%) Chi-square p-value 28–31(%) 31–34(%) 34–37(%) 37–40(%) Low 0 0 0 0 0 13.918 0.003 Normal 0 0 88.89 11.11 100 High 19.6 31.37 25.5 23.53 100 ConclusionsMBD is more common in preterm babies than SGA babies. Serum calcium does not correlate well with gestational age of low birth weight infants where as serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase have significant correlation. Diagnosis of M