Risk factors associated with low birth weight delivery in United Arab Emirates

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of LBW in the UAE and to identify risk factors associated with it. A matched case-control study was conducted between 15 January1992 -14 January1993. Questionnaires that included questions on 26factors were filled for every mother in the two groups. two hundred and ninety three infants born in Al Ain during the study period were of low birth weight [<2500 g]. The control group included the first mother who delivered a baby weighing >2500 g at birth immediately following the birth of the LBW infant. A univariate analysis was carried out on each factor and 14 factors namely, maternal age<20 years, mother's education, mother's occupation absence of household help first degree consanguinity nulliparity maternal BMI<19 previous preterm or LBW delivery premature rupture of membrane multiple deliveries interpregnancy interval<3 months antenatal booking weight at booking and short gestation were found to be significantly associated with LBW. These factors were then allowed to compete in a stepwise multiple logistic regression model Only gestational age previous preterm or LBW delivery maternal BMI<19 antenatal booking multiple births and absence of house work help were retained in the model These variables correctly predicted 90% of the controls to be of normal birth weight and 82% of the cases to be LBW This is the first comprehensive study on risk factors affecting the birth of an infant conducted in the UAE Since only 6 out of 26 different risk factors were found to be significantly associated with LBW reports on significant risk factors from univariate analyses may be spurious with many factors possibly being confounders

Plasma amino acid profiles for different age groups and for breast fed infants

The aim of the study was to determine the amino acid profile across the entire age range of the normal population of the UAE. Subjects were selected consecutively from those attending general practitioner clinics, delivery wards, and well baby clinics until at least 20 subjects from each category were examined. The different categories were cord blood, pregnant mothers at delivery, infants from 0 - 3 months of age, breast fed-only infants [0 - 3 months], ages 4 - 6 months, 7 - 12 months, 13 months to 5 years, 6 - 12 years, 13 - 40 years, and > 40 years. Amino acid measurements were performed using ion-exchange chromatography. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for each value and t test was used to calculate differences between the means. Values of amino acid in delivering mothers were highest when compared to samples in other categories except for proline and glutamine. The values for all amino acids, except for threonine, alanine, ornithine, lysine and histidine which were constantly higher in the age group > 13 years, were similar in all age groups > 1 year of age. Values for aspartate, serine, asparagine, alanine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and arginine were higher in blood samples drawn from women at delivery than in the cord blood samples. The amino acid values in UAE women at delivery were also significantly higher than values in Western women published elsewhere. The results of samples drawn from mothers at delivery were surprisingly high for most amino acids probably due to the protein-rich food consumed by the UAE population and perhaps to genetic differences. New normal levels of each amino acid have been provided for the UAE population at different ages

Waardenburg's syndrome with long segment Hirschsprung's disease in an Omani family

An Omani child with Waardenburg's syndrome associated with long-segment Hirsch-sprung's disease is described. Of 7 children in the family 3 were affected all being males. The one remaining male sibling was normal. Inheritance may therefore be polyallelic or through a single gene with the property of variable expressivity and in complete penetrance

Kawasaki disease in a UAE boy

The first reported case of Kawasaki disease or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome [MCLS] in the UAE is described. This diagnosis should always be considered in young children presenting with fever, rash and lymph node enlargement