PLASMA AMMONIA LEVELS IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT PRETERM INFANTS

The mean plasma ammonia level at birth of 36 very low birth weight inf ants (less-than-or-equal-to 32 weeks of gestation) was 71 +/- 26 mumol /L (121 +/- 45 mug/dl), which is similar to the mean level in preterm infants born at greater-than-or-equal-to 32 weeks of gestational age. Plasma ammonia levels declined to 42 +/- 14 mumol/L (72 +/- 24 mug/dl) at 7 days of age; mean ammonia levels of 14,21, and 28 days of age we re similar to that at 7 days of age and to the mean plasma ammonia lev el of 14 healthy term infants at birth (45 +/- 9 mumol/L (77 +/- 16 mu g/dl)).