Nephrocalcinosis and Nephrolithiasis in Preterm Neonates Under 1500 Grams Birth Body Weight

Renal calcification (nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis) are common in both term and preterm infants who have had difficult neonatal courses. Multiple factors including some medications may cause hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis in premature neonates. The aim of this research was to determine the rate of renal calcification and its relation with neonatal clinical course and medications in preterm neonates under 1500 grams birth body weight

In a cross sectional and descriptive–analytical study, 250 premature neonates with birth weight less than 1,500 grams who hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Alzahra Hospital of Tabriz/Iran from 2012-2013 were studied. Data including gender, gestational age, birth weight, first and fifth minute APGAR score, delivery type and receiving mechanical ventilation, CPAP and drugs were recorded. Renal ultrasound examination was done in all neonates at one month of age and was repeated at 40 weeks corrected gestational age.

The mean weight and gestational age of neonates were 1233.45±634.45 gram and 29.34±3.7 weeks respectively. One hundred and four neonates (41.6%) were male and 146 cases were female. Renal calcification was reported in the first ultrasound scan in 11 neonates (4.4%) and in the second one in 74 cases (29.6%). There was not significant association between renal calcification and sex, gestational age, receiving surfactant, aminoglycosides and calcium (P>0.05). There was a significant relationship between renal calcification and low birth weight, mechanical ventilation, CPAP, receiving diuretics, methyl xanthines, vancomaycin and corticosteroids (p

We found renal calcification in less than one third of studied neonates. Renal calcification was more common in infants with less birth body weight and those receiving mechanical ventilation, CPAP, diuretics, methyl xanthines, vancomycin, and corticosteroids.