Original Article
Journal of Perinatology (2003) 23, 552–555. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7210984
Effect of Dexamethasone Therapy on Serum Vitamin E Concentrations in Premature Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Sanjiv B Amin MD1,2, Nirupama Laroia MD1, Robert A Sinkin MD1 and James W Kendig MD1,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital at Strong University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
Correspondence: Sanjiv B. Amin, MD, Division of Neonatology, 22 South Greene Street, Room N5W68, University Center, Baltimore, MD 21201-1595, USA
2Current address of Sanjiv B. Amin: Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA.
3Current address of James W. Kendig: Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Children's Hospital, M.S. Hershey Medical Center, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of dexamethasone therapy on serum vitamin E concentrations in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
STUDY DESIGN: A total of 10, 24 to 29 weeks' gestational age, infants enrolled in a prospective study designed to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on lipid intolerance were eligible for the study. Eight of these 10 infants had serum vitamin E concentrations measured simultaneously with serum triglyceride concentrations before the start of dexamethasone therapy (baseline) and within 5 days of the initiation of dexamethasone therapy. Charts were reviewed for vitamin E intake at baseline and on dexamethasone therapy for each of these eight infants.
RESULTS: All eight infants had physiological serum vitamin E concentrations (1 to 3 mg/dl) at baseline, while six of eight infants had pharmacological serum vitamin E concentrations (
3 mg/dl) on dexamethasone therapy. All infants with an increase in serum vitamin E concentration also had a simultaneous increase in serum triglyceride concentrations with a significant correlation between vitamin E and triglyceride concentrations (Spearman's 
=0.92). There was a significant difference in mean serum vitamin E concentration between baseline and post-dexamethasone therapy (P=0.01, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test). There was no significant difference in vitamin E intake between baseline and post-dexamethasone therapy.
CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone therapy in premature infants induces significant increase in serum vitamin E concentrations to pharmacological levels independent of vitamin E intake.
