Longitudinal measurements of 17
-hydroxyprogesterone in
premature infants during the first three months of
life
N Lindera, N Davidovitcha, A Kogana, A Barzilaib, J Kuinta, R Mazkereta, J Sackb
a Department of
Neonatology Chaim Sheba Medical Center
Tel Hashomer and
Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv, b Department of Paediatrics
Chaim Sheba Medical Center
Correspondence to: Dr Nehama Linder. Department of Neonatology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, 14 Kaplan Street, Petah Tikva, 49202 Israel
Accepted 6 June 1999
AIMS
To
determine normal concentrations of 17
-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP)
for premature infants.
METHODS17OHP was
measured in 66 consecutive premature infants once a week during the
first month, and once every two weeks thereafter, until the age of 3 months. The 17OHP values in 100 full term healthy neonates on the third
day of life served as controls. Blood was sampled on filter paper using
a neonatal radioimmunoassay kit. Findings were correlated with
gestational age, birthweight, mode of delivery, Apgar scores, presence
of respiratory distress syndrome and intake of maternal steroids.
RESULTSMean 17OHP was
raised at 7 days of age (138.9, 46.3, 53.3, 29.9 nmol/l, respectively,
for infants whose gestational age was under 29 weeks, 29 to 30 weeks,
31 to 32 weeks, and 33 weeks and above). It fell sharply in the first
two weeks after which it gradually decreased further, reaching 32.7, 23.6, 16.9, and 13.0 nmol/l, respectively, by the age of 90 days. The
mean (SEM) 17OHP concentration in full term infants on day 3 of life
was 17.8 (8.9) nmol/l. These values were independent of the presence
and severity of respiratory distress syndrome and of prenatal maternal steroids.
CONCLUSIONSThe
increased 17OHP concentrations found at birth fell to those found in
term infants during the first three months of life in infants over 31 weeks of gestation. Postconceptional age is the most important factor
determining 17OHP concentration.
Keywords: 17
-hydroxyprogesterone;
postconceptional age;
congenital adrenal hyperplasia;
steroids
© 1999 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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