The aim of this study was to evaluate glucosuria in PT receiving intravenous glucose, correlating those results with the total blood glucose, glucose infusion rate (GIR), birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA), and the presence of illness. Considering the clinical, respiratory, and hemodinamic status at the time of collecting the pairs of total blood glucose/glucosuria, two study groups were formed: Group I (healthy) and Group II (sick). The goodness of the GIR was assured by frequent monitoring of total blood glucose by glucose oxigenase method. Statistical analysis for total blood glucose/glucosuria pairs was by chi-square test and Kappa statistics for stratification by GIR, BW and GA; umpaired t-test for comparison between means, and a multivariate model for glucosuria prediction. The significance level was set at 0.05.

40 infants were studied, with a M/F ratio of 23/17; mean BW, 1865g (C.I.: 1705 - 1985g); mean GA, 34 3/7 weeks (C.I.: 33 5/7 - 35 1/7 weeks). 511 pairs of total blood glucose/glucosuria were studied (mean of 12.8/newborn), with 228 (44.6%) in the Group I and 283 (55.4%) in the Group II. 31 (6.1%) episodes of glucosuria were detected, 9 (29.0%) in the Group I and 22 (70.9%) in the Group II (p=0.006). Analyzing BW < 1500g, we found glucosuria in 6 (10.1%) PT newborns from Group I and 9 (20.9%) from Group II; among PT with GA ≤ 30 weeks there were 5 (13.8%) in the Group I and 9 (23.6%) in the Group II(p=0.04). Glucosuria also occurred in 7 (7.0%) PT newborns from Group I and 9(14.2%) from Group II receiving a GIR > 6.0 mg/kgxmin (p=0.03). To the analysis of total blood glucose levels to predict glucosuria, different cut off points were compared regarding to the discordance, as shown below.Table

Table 1
Full size table

The main factors for glucosuria in PT newborns were the presence of illness, GA and GIR. Levels of hyperglycemia were not a good marker for glucosuria. The authors contest the validity of routine glucosuria use to the adequacy of GIR in PT newborns.