Permissive hyperglycemia in extremely low birth weight infants

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of permissive hyperglycemia up to < 300 mg/dL in extremely-low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 260 live-born ELBWIs at Samsung Medical Center between 2004 and 2008, grouped according to peak blood glucose level and management during the first 14 days of life. The groups were normoglycemia (N), blood glucose ≤ 200 mg/dL; permissive hyperglycemia (P), blood glucose 201-299 mg/dL without insulin treatment; treated hyperglycemia (T), blood glucose ≥ 300 mg/dL with insulin. Only 15% of patients were grouped as N, with 39% as P and 46% as T. Although P had lower birth weight, P had a similar daily calorie and glucose intake as well as urine output compared to N. There was no significant correlation between blood glucose level and urine output on day 7. Compared to N, P showed faster weight gain and similar mortality, morbidities, and long-term neurological outcomes. Permissive hyperglycemia up to < 300 mg/dL without insulin treatment during the first 14 days of life is not associated with osmotic diuresis or increased mortality or morbidities, suggesting that it is not detrimental in ELBWIs.