Abstract
The diencephalic syndrome (DS) of infancy is one of the definable causes of failure to thrive. It produces a very caracteristic syndrome of emaciation, in spite of apparently adquate food intake, and a hypermetabolic state with hyperactivity, hyperalertness, tachycardia, fever, excessive sweating and flushing of the skin.
We have measured the resting energy expenditure (REE) by indirect calorimetry in one male infant, 9 month old, during two consecutive hospital admissions. Both REE were 38 and 32% higher than normal by age or by body weight. Daily intakes were estimated by difference of food weights. Due to the continous state of hypermetabolism, we admitted an increase of about 40% of REE. Therefore, daily energy expenditure were calculated in the order of 123 and 129 kcal/kg/day, practically similar or higher than the intake. We conclude that the failure to thrive of the DS may be consequent to the increased REE, associated to the insufficient intake to cover the total daily energy expenditure.
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Cardoso, L., Carrazza, R. ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND DIENCEPHALIC SYNDROME IN INFANCY. Pediatr Res 36, 823 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199412000-00026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199412000-00026