Abstract
Do initial weight changes under the usual restrictive fluid therapy in premature infants reflect water balance or nutritional status? We studied in 8 premature infants (GA 26-29 wks, on respirator) total body water TBW (D2O space),body solids (weight-TBW), extracellular volume ECV (sucrose space) and intracellular volume ICV (TBW-ECV) at birth, at maximal weight loss and when birth weight was regained. Weight (-79g), TBW (-95ml) and ECV (-80ml) initially decreased (p<:*0.01;**0.001), body solids and ICV did not change. During subsequent weight gain there was a trend of TBW and ECV to return to initial levels. Caloric intake was borderline to meet basal metabolic needs, but even at study end not sufficient for growth.Conclusion: Postnatal weight loss is loss of body water from the ECV, subsequent weight gain is restauration of fluid volumes towards initial levels.
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