Abstract
Seventy-three premature infants were studied on the first day of life before fluid therapy or feedings were begun. These were divided into 3 groups according to weight. A fourth group was included in this study as a "control." The following chemical constituents of the plasma were measured: sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2 content, total protein, urea and sugar. The blood pH and the hematocrit were also determined. The protein base-binding power was calculated. The observations were made on capillary blood obtained by heel puncture. Ultramicro-methods were used for the estimation of the various chemical constituents. The mean concentration of potassium is significantly higher in the lowest weight group; the protein and correspondingly the base-binding power of the protein is also significantly lower in this group. The mean values for sodium, chloride, CO2, pH, sugar and urea did not vary significantly with the birth weights of the infants. While the lowest pH values were encountered in the lowest weight group, the mean did not significantly differ from group to group. The mean concentration of urea was higher in the lowest weight group but did not significantly vary with the birth weight of the infants. The mean concentration of glucose in the plasma was lowest in the lowest weight group. The hematocrit values were uniformly above normal in all groups, but the mean did not vary from group to group.
Published Version
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