Accepted for publication on April 06, 2010 FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF LIFE AND RISK OF BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA IN THE PRETERM NEONATE

Rocha G, Ribeiro O, Guimarães H. Fluid and electrolyte balance during the first week of life and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the preterm neonate. Clinics. 2010;65(7):663-74. BACKGROUND: Early fluid and electrolyte imbalances may be associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish an association between fluid and electrolyte balance in the first week of life and the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. METHODS: Clinical charts of 205 neonates <32 weeks gestational age and/or <1,250 g birth weight (admitted to our NICU be-tween 1997 and 2008) were analyzed. Clinical features, fluid and electrolyte balance were analyzed for the first 7 days of life using multivariate models of generalized estimation equations. A p value <0.05 was considered significant in all of the hypothesis tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 22%. Lower gestational age and birth weight, male gender, less frequent use of antenatal steroids, respiratory distress syndrome, use of surfactant, patent ductus arteriosus, duration of invasive ventilation and NICU stay were significantly associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The variation in serum values of potas-sium, phosphorus and creatinine during the first week of life also revealed an association with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Highe