Serum creatine kinase BB (CK-BB) determinations were performed daily in 49 newborn infants of less than 34 weeks gestation to evaluate its usefulness in predicting the occurrence of periventricular-intraventricular haemorrhage (PIVH). Using ultrasound PIVH was detected in 20 infants (41%); five grade I, seven grade II, two grade III, six grade IV (grading according to Papile et al.). Infants who developed severe PIVH (grade IV) during the study period had significantly higher serum CK-BB activities immediately after birth when compared with infants who developed less severe haemorrhages (grades I, II and II) or no PIVH. We postulate that these high serum enzyme activities are caused by perinatal brain cell damage which is an important antecedent of severe PIVH. Therefore, serum CK-BB activities at birth can be used as predictor of severe PIVH.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Growth in length and weight from birth to 2 years of a representative sample of Netherlands children (born in 1988-89) related to socioeconomic status and other background characteristics.

Of nearly 1900 live-born singletons, born from April 1988 to October 1989 inclusive, nine measurements of length and weight have been taken between the ages of 1 and 24 months. In the first part of the study, differences in attained length and weight at 1 and 2 years of age are analysed according to socioeconomic status (SES). Multiple regression analyses are used to investigate the association of SES and other background characteristics with length and weight. The second part focuses on the analysis of differences in linear length and weight gain in the first 2 years of life, using a two-step regression technique. At 1 and 2 years of age, differences in attained length and weight and in length and weight gain according to SES are small and not significant, except for the children of Mediterranean parents in the low-SES group, who are significantly heavier than children of all other groups and gain significantly more in weight compared to children of Dutch parents in the low-SES group. Of all the factors studied it appears that parental height, birthweight, parity and ethnic descent of the parents are associated with attained length and weight at 1 and 2 years of age. Of these factors, ethnic descent, however, is not associated with length gain. A small but statistically significant catch-up growth is found in children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy.

Age Factors↗