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Catabolic effect in premature infants with early dexamethasone treatment
Author(s) -
Tsai FJ,
Tsai CH,
Wu SF,
Liu YH,
Yeh TF
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1996.tb13957.x
Subject(s) - dexamethasone , medicine , bronchopulmonary dysplasia , catabolism , glutamine , endocrinology , creatinine , protein catabolism , cystine , urinary system , amino acid , metabolism , biochemistry , gestational age , biology , enzyme , pregnancy , cysteine , genetics
To evaluate the catabolic effects of dexamethasone therapy on protein metabolism, amino acid concentrations and urinary 3‐methylhistidine (3MH) were measured in 28 premature infants who were included in a double‐blind controlled study using early dexamethasone therapy in the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Fifteen infants received dexamethasone (0.5mg/kg/day i.v.) and 13 infants received normal saline as control. Heparinized venous blood samples for amino acid analysis were obtained before the study and again at day 5 after starting the study. Urinary 3MH was measured on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of treatment. A substantial increase in amino acid concentrations was observed in infants receiving dexamethasone. Alanine, glutamine, citrulline, ornithine and cystine concentrations increased twofold or more. The 3MH:creatinine ratio was increased in the treated group. These metabolic effects were most likely due to an increase in protein catabolism.