Total Body Bone Mineral Content (TBBMC) in Preterm Infants at Birth Using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) 1530

PURPOSE: To establish normal values for total body bone mineral content (TBBMC) in preterm infants.

METHODS: TBBMC was determined using DEXA, in fourteen preterm infants. The infants were transported to radiology. Informal parental consent was obtained prior to conducting the study. The exclusion criteria were: infants with gestational age discrepancy over 2 weeks, major congenital malformations, metabolic bone disease, chromosomal problems, or requiring assisted ventilation. The gestational age ranged between 30 to 36 weeks. The birthweight ranged from 1240 grams to 2720 grams. The study was done on each infant on day 1 to 3 of life. The data was analyzed using regression analysis. The results are shown in the graph below:

RESULTS: See Figure below

Figure 1

CONCLUSION: The TBBMC increases with increasing gestational age. These findings have important implications for the assessment of bone growth and nutritional management of preterm infants in the hospital.