The risk factors and prognosis associated with neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage / 소아과

PURPOSE: Although neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage is rare, it is associated with high mortality. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with pulmonary hemorrhage in preterm infants and to describe the clinical course, including neonatal morbidity, of infants who developed pulmonary hemorrhage. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study of 117 newborn infants aged less than 37 gestational weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Daegu Fatima Hospital between January 1995 and December 2008. Control group infants without pulmonary hemorrhage were matched according to the gestational age, duration of mechanical ventilation, and birth weight range (< or =100 g). Pulmonary hemorrhage was defined as the presence of hemorrhagic fluid in the trachea and severe respiratory decompensation. RESULTS: Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 17 cases of very low birth weight infants (VLBW; birth weight < 1,500 g; median age, 3 days) and 22 cases of low birth weight infants (LBW; 1,500 g < or = birth weight < 2,500 g; median age, 1 day). Antenatal maternal glucocorticoid treatment significantly reduced the incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage in VLBW infants. Low APGAR score (< or =3 at 1 min) and acidosis at birth were associated with significantly high incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage in LBW infants. CONCLUSION: Antecedent factors and timing of pulmonary hemorrhage of LBW infants were different from those of VLBW infants. The mortality rates of VLBW and LBW infants were 88.2% and 45.5%, respectively. Pulmonary hemorrhage was the principal cause of death in 66.6% VLBW infants and 40.0% LBW infants.

The effects of neonatal ventilator care or maternal chorioamnionitis on the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia / 소아과

PURPOSE: Advances in neonatal intensive care have improved the survival rate of low-birth-weight infants, but mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with the accompanying need for prolonged oxygen supplement remains problematic. Maternal chorioamnionitis and neonatal ventilator care affect the development of BPD. This study aimed to examine whether maternal chorioamnionitis or neonatal ventilator care affect the development of BPD dependently or independently. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 158 newborn infants below 36 weeks of gestational age and 1,500 gm birth weight admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Daegu Fatima Hospital between January 2000 and December 2006. We analyzed the incidence of BPD according to maternal chorioamnionitis and neonatal ventilator care. Result: Histologic chorioamnionitis was observed in 50 of 158 infants (31.6%). There were no significant differences in the development of BPD (P=0.735) between the chorioamnionitis (+) and chorioamnionitis (-) groups. In the multiple regression analysis, ventilator care (OR=7.409, 95% CI=2.532-21.681) and neonatal sepsis (OR=4.897, 95% CI=1.227-19.539) affected the development of BPD rather than maternal chorioamnionitis (OR=0.461, 95% CI=0.201-1.059). CONCLUSION: Ventilator care or neonatal sepsis may play a role in the development of BPD rather than maternal chorioamnionitis.

Relationship between Total Serum IgE Level and Allergic Sensitization/Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Preschool Children with Asthma / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the serum IgE level and allergic sensitization/bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in preschool children with asthma. METHODS: One hundred nine asthmatic children age 4-6 years were enrolled. Total serum IgE levels, and specific IgE level to food and inhalant allergens were tested using Pharmacia Auto CAP system RAST(R)FEIA, methacholine bronchial challenge test (PCw=Provocative concentration at wheezing. PCsat=Provocative concentration at 5% fall of oxygen saturation) were performed in all subjects. They were divided into 3 groups according to the serum IgE level:less than 120 IU/mL (group A, n=38), 120 to 1,000 IU/mL (group B, n=45), and greater than 1,000 IU/mL (group C, n=26). The relationships with allergic sensitization and BHR were evaluatied among the 3 groups. RESULTS: Sensitization to foods and inhalant allergens were related to a higher total serum IgE levels. However, BHR and severity of asthma were not related to higher total serum IgE levels, except in group B. Presence of atopic dermatitis, high serum eosinophil (>450/mm3), allergic sensitization to foods and inhalants were related to high serum IgE greater than 1,000 IU/mL. (odds ratio ; 95% confidence interval=4.4;1.7-11.2, 3.2;1.2-9.2, 4.8;1.7-13.2, 5.5;1.2-24.9) CONCLUSION: Moderately elevated total serum IgE was related to allergic sensitization, severity of asthma and BHR. However highly elevated total serum IgE was related to only allergic sensitization. This may be attributed to other factors in preschool children with asthma.