Delay of catch-up growth in very low birthweight infants

Aim. To determine if appropriate for gestational age, very low birth weight infants demonstrate catch-up growth. Methods. The notes of 74 appropriate for gestational age, very low birth we ight infants were reviewed and anthropometric measures converted into stand ard deviation scores (Z-scores). The growth of "well" infants was compared with that of "unwell" infants (those who developed necrotising enterocoliti s, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or were not feeding at one week of age). Results. All infants showed reduced weight (p<0.001) and head circumference (p<0.01) Z-scores at one week of age. This persisted until 35 weeks postme nstrual age in both groups, by which time length Z-scores had also reduced. The well group had regained birth Z-scores for all measurements by three m onths post-term. However the unwell group still had significantly lower wei ght (p<0.01) and length (p<0.05) Z-scores at three months. Conclusions. Well very low birth weight infants regained their birth percen tiles by three months post-term. In infants with significant neonatal illne ss, this recovery was delayed.