Abstract
Each of 12 AGA premature infants (birth weight 0.84-1.48 kg) was studied once weekly for 3 to 6 weeks beginning at age 4-10 d. Each week metabolic heat production (M) and body temperatures were measured for 1-1.5 h after equilibration at each of four abdominal skin temperatures (Ts) (35.5, 36.0, 36.5, 37.0°C) in a single-walled incubator (Air-Shields C-86H) operated by skin temperature servocontrol. The neutral skin temperature (nTs) was determined as that at which M was minimal while rectal temperature (Tr) was normal (36.5-37.5°C).
The modal nTs was 36.0 or 36.5°C at all ages. The rectalskin gradient at neutrality (nTr - nTs), the neutral metabolic rate (Mn), and the metabolic response to cold (M35.5 - Mn) all increased with age. Mean values are shown in the table below:
At 1 week, M was independent of Ts; Tr varied with Ts but was always 0.5°C higher. After week 1, M was highest at Ts 35.5°C. M increased with age regardless of Ts. Defense against cold improved, as skinfold thickness and the capabilities for vasoconstriction and raising M all increased with age. Metabolic heat production of these small premature infants depended more on age (from 1 to 6 weeks) than on skin (or environmental) temperature.
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Bell, E., Rios, G. 1339 MATURATION OF BODY TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF PREMATURELY BORN INFANTS. Pediatr Res 19, 334 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01363
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01363