ISSN:
1432-1076
Keywords:
Adrenocortical steroids
;
Premature infants
;
Sodium supplementation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract To assess the adrenocortical response of premature infants to alterations in sodium balance, the postnatal course of plasma progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosternoe, aldosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol and cortisone was compared in healthy premature infants kept on low (1–2 mEq/kg per day) or high (3–5 mEq/kg per day) sodium diet. The mean birthweight (1470 g, range: 1210–1670 g vs 1410 g, range: 1130–1750 g) and mean gestational age (30.5 weeks, range: 29–32 weeks vs 30.2 weeks, range: 28–32 weeks) in the low and high sodium groups, respectively, were similar. Simultaneous steroid hormone measurements were made weekly up to the 5th week of life using mechanized Sephadex LH-20 multicolumn chromatogaphy and standardized radioimmunoassays. It was demonstrated that in response to renal salt wasting and negative sodium balance there was a significant rise in plasma aldosterone concentration. The plasma levels of other individual corticosteroids generally declined with advancing age, the initial fall, however, was followed by a transient and insignificant but simultaneous increase in 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, cortisone and corticosterone in prematures on low a sodium diet. This effect could be prevented by giving NaCl supplement. The NaCl-suppressible increase in adrenocortical activity may be the result of the combined effect of stress or angiotensin 11-induced adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release and/or prolactin-mediated enhanced adrenal response to ACTH.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00441415
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