ALDOSTERONE CORD LEVELS IN PRETERM NEWBORN-INFANTS

We measured umbilical cord aldosterone concentrations in 64 premature newborn infants. The median serum aldosterone level was 74.5 ng dl(-1) (range 22-280 ng dl(-1)). Of the studied perinatal factors, only gest ational age and birthweight presented a significant influence on the u mbilical cord aldosterone levels. Newborn infants with a gestational a ge of over 34 weeks and a birthweight of over 2000 g had a significant ly higher aldosterone cord level than those aged 34 weeks or younger a nd 2000 g or less in weight.