NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1159/000547451
Nicole Asdell, Cecilie Halling, Susan M Lopata, Sheria D Wilson, Shamlal Mangray, Zachary J Farmer
{"title":"Neonatal Thymic Hemorrhage Secondary to Vitamin K Deficiency: A Case Report.","authors":"Nicole Asdell, Cecilie Halling, Susan M Lopata, Sheria D Wilson, Shamlal Mangray, Zachary J Farmer","doi":"10.1159/000547451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in newborns remains a preventable yet potentially devastating condition. Maternal malabsorption disorders such as Crohn's disease may place infants at increased risk of coagulopathy due to impaired transplacental vitamin K transfer. This report describes a rare and severe case of VKDB in a preterm infant and his postpartum mother, highlighting the potential consequences of undiagnosed maternal vitamin K deficiency and emphasizing the importance of heightened awareness in high-risk pregnancies. Case Report A 32-year-old woman with Crohn's disease presented at 34+6 weeks' gestation with preeclampsia and was delivered via urgent cesarean at 35+3 due to non-reassuring fetal testing. Her newborn son required resuscitation and developed severe coagulopathy with bruising, bleeding, and a large anterior mediastinal mass, later confirmed as hemorrhagic thymic tissue without neoplasm. Laboratory evaluation revealed markedly elevated INR and PIVKA-II, which improved with vitamin K and plasma transfusions. The mother experienced significant postpartum hemorrhage with a pelvic hematoma and coagulopathy, requiring transfusions, embolization, and vitamin K supplementation. Both mother and infant recovered following appropriate interventions. At 13 months, the infant had mild left-hand weakness but normal neurodevelopmental scores. Conclusion This case highlights a rare but serious complication of maternal vitamin K deficiency resulting in neonatal coagulopathy and thymic hemorrhage. Given the increased risk in mothers with malabsorptive disorders such as Crohn's disease, screening and supplementation protocols should be considered. Further studies are needed to guide optimal management of at-risk pregnancies to prevent VKDB in both mother and newborn.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144710406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1159/000547589
Carolina Michel Macías, Emmanouil Rampakakis, Marina Mir, Matthew Mazzarello, Shiran Sara Moore, Punnanee Wutthigate, Jessica Simoneau, Daniela Villegas M, Sam D Shemie, Marie Brossard-Racine, Adrian Dancea, Gianluca Bertolizio, Pia Wintermark, Gabriel Altit
{"title":"Preoperative cerebral and renal saturations in neonates with congenital heart defects: A prospective cohort study.","authors":"Carolina Michel Macías, Emmanouil Rampakakis, Marina Mir, Matthew Mazzarello, Shiran Sara Moore, Punnanee Wutthigate, Jessica Simoneau, Daniela Villegas M, Sam D Shemie, Marie Brossard-Racine, Adrian Dancea, Gianluca Bertolizio, Pia Wintermark, Gabriel Altit","doi":"10.1159/000547589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common birth defects. Cerebral (cStO2) and renal (rStO2) saturations measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the corresponding fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) during the first week of life in neonates with CHD are described comparing those with and without diastolic steal.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Single-center prospective cohort study (Montreal Children's Hospital, Quebec, Canada), including neonates >34 weeks with CHD without chromosomal anomalies. CStO2 /rStO2 were monitored from enrollment until day 7 of life. FTOE was calculated using systemic saturation (SpO2) as [SpO2-(cStO2 or rStO2)]/ SpO2. Daily echocardiography was performed during the monitoring period. Random mixed effect models were constructed to assess the association between NIRS/FTOE and the presence of retrograde postductal aortic flow on last available echocardiography.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 49 included neonates, 27 (55%) exhibited retrograde flow in the postductal aorta on the last day of monitoring. Prostaglandin (PGE1) exposure was 100% in the retrograde group vs. 27% (non-retrograde). CStO2/ rStO2 progressively declined in neonates with CHD over the first week of life. Retrograde aortic flow was associated with negative cStO2 (β = -9.1%, 95% CI [-14.3; -3.8]) and rStO2 (β = -8.4%, 95% CI [-14.5; -2.3]). Cerebral FTOE was lower in the non-retrograde group, while renal FTOE was similar between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>During the first week of life, neonates with CHD who displayed retrograde aortic flow exhibited lower cStO2 and rStO2 as well as higher cerebral FTOE. Future studies should evaluate whether these markers in neonates with CHD are modifiable factors that could influence cerebral or renal injury when addressed.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144700783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Effect of Oral Immunotherapy on Preterm Neonates: A Promising Adjuvant Therapy in a Clinical Trial Study.","authors":"Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim, Khaled Elkhashab, Iman Khaled Ayada, Hams Magdy, Shymaa Sobhy Menshawy","doi":"10.1159/000547414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547414","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Breastfeeding is currently recommended as the optimal and initial feeding option for all newborns, as it protects against illness and reduces neonatal mortality. Furthermore, premature infants exhibit reduced swallowing ability and an increased risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which may hinder suckling and delay the initiation of enteral feeding.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the effects of oropharyngeal colostrum delivery in preterm neonates < 34 weeks' gestation on hospital outcomes, specifically differences in hospital stay between neonates who received colostrum for three days and those who did not.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective, interventional, randomized controlled trial enrolled ninety-six preterm neonates, who were allocated into three groups: Group A, neonates who received oropharyngeal colostrum for 3 days along with routine care; Group B, neonates who received oropharyngeal colostrum for 10 days along with routine care; and Group C, neonates who received routine care only. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare medians among the three groups. Associations between categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-squared test and Monte Carlo test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The two groups that received colostrum showed significantly reduced median hospital stays, time to reach full enteral intake, and sepsis rates compared to the control group (P < 0.001). A significant difference in daily weight gain was observed between groups, particularly between the control group and neonates who received colostrum for 10 days (P = 0.028). Regarding the incidence of NEC, no significant difference was found among the groups (P = 0.314).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Oropharyngeal colostrum may be considered a potential oral immunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144683911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-07-12DOI: 10.1159/000547287
Siree Kaempfen, Carlos Sanchez, Edgar Delgado-Eckert, Sven M Schulzke
{"title":"Association of heart rate variability with postnatal maturation in preterm infants.","authors":"Siree Kaempfen, Carlos Sanchez, Edgar Delgado-Eckert, Sven M Schulzke","doi":"10.1159/000547287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction We assessed whether longitudinal measurements of sample entropy (SampEn) of heart rate time series reflect postnatal maturation in preterm infants and evaluated its predictive value at 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) for estimating discharge home. We further compared SampEn of preterm infants at discharge with that of term infants. Methods We conducted a prospective study at the University Children's Hospital Basel, Switzerland from 2018 to 2022. We included preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation and a control group of term infants. Heart rate was recorded using the clinical monitoring system. We assessed preterm infants at 32 and 36 weeks PMA, and at discharge; term infants were evaluated between 3 to 28 days of life. SampEn was calculated from 90-min recordings using custom analytical software. Results We obtained valid data from 183/183 preterm infants (mean (range) 28.4 (23.3-31.7) weeks gestation) and from 80/104 (76%) term infants. In preterm infants, SampEn increased from 32 to 36 weeks PMA (0.35 vs. 0.40; p<0.01) without further increase to discharge. SampEn was positively associated with maturation and growth, and negatively with complications of prematurity, particularly with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. SampEn at 32 weeks PMA did not improve clinical predictions of PMA at discharge. At discharge, SampEn did not differ significantly between preterm and term infants. Conclusion SampEn of heart rate time series increased with postnatal maturation in preterm infants, reaching values of term infants at discharge. It was negatively associated with complications of prematurity but its prognostic value for discharge timing is limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144628308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-07-04DOI: 10.1159/000547201
Giorgia Iovannitti, Federico Bianchi, Luca Massimi, Paolo Frassanito, Gianpiero Tamburrini
{"title":"Treatment with plasma transfusion and plasma-derived human plasminogen in a newborn with plasminogen deficiency and recurrent hydrocephalus: A Case Report.","authors":"Giorgia Iovannitti, Federico Bianchi, Luca Massimi, Paolo Frassanito, Gianpiero Tamburrini","doi":"10.1159/000547201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Plasminogen deficiency is a congenital autosomal recessive disorder. Ligneous conjunctivitis is pathognomonic to the disease, however hydrocephalus is a rare complication.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A neonate with prenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus associated with Dandy-Walker Syndrome was sent to our observation. Surgery was followed by multiple shunt malfunctions in the early postoperative period. An ophtalmological evaluation suggested the diagnosis of ligneous conjunctivitis. Laboratory tests lead to the diagnosis of a systemic PLGD. The disease caused the formation of multiple membranes, which prevented the proper functioning of the ventricular shunts. We started an alternated treatment with plasma transfusions and plasma-derived human plasminogen. This has allowed the control of the complications related to the treatment of the hydrocephalus.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Ligneous conjunctivitis was pivotal in the diagnosis of pathology. It is currently difficult to get sufficient doses of Plasma-Derived Human Plasminogen for e.v. administration, considering that it is still not officially authorized in Europe.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144577463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-06-25DOI: 10.1159/000546893
Michael Obladen
{"title":"Tabula Rasa? A History of Fetal Learning and Neonatal Perception.","authors":"Michael Obladen","doi":"10.1159/000546893","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000546893","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sensory capacities of the fetus and newborn are still incompletely known. This paper delineates the history of understanding and evidence.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>In the 2nd century, Galen propagated the tabula rasa theory comparing newborns to a blank writing tablet, without senses of sight, hearing, taste, or smell. Somatosensory: once the microscope was available, tactile receptors were identified in mid-17th century. But the tabula rasa theory persisted, and physicians maintained until the 1980s that neonates feel no pain. Auditory: the inner ear's development begins at 10 weeks of gestation at the cochlear basis and ends at its apex at 24 weeks. Researchers believed still into the 19th century that the fetus lacked auditory sensitivity. The uterus is not a quiet place, as the fetus hears uterine vessels, maternal voice, peristalsis, diaphragmatic movement, and heartbeat. In 1980, DeCasper proved that newborns preferred hearing their mothers' voice when compared to that of another mother. The evidence is weaker for sounds originating outside the maternal body. Despite little in-utero stimulation, the newborn's visual apparatus functions from birth. Infants enter the world with innate perceptual knowledge of the human face. Olfactory: human infants are attracted by the smell of their mother's breast. It took 1500 years to discard the tabula rasa theory and to grant the newborn full personhood in the 20th century.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>Fetal sensory organs are developed by mid-gestation. Neonates know their mother's voice and smell, which encourages maternal contact, prudent disinfectant use, and reduced noise in the nursery.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144499930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-06-21DOI: 10.1159/000546969
Rosemarie de Ridder, Trixie Andrea Katz, Anton H van Kaam, Suzanne M Mugie, Elske H Weber, Femke de Groof, Annemieke Kunst, Maria E N van den Heuvel, Clare E Counsilman, Maarten Rijpert, Irene A Schiering, Janneke Wilms, Fenna Visser, Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens, Aleid G Leemhuis, Wes Onland
{"title":"Impact of Implementing Nasal High Flow Therapy on Body Growth in Preterm Infants.","authors":"Rosemarie de Ridder, Trixie Andrea Katz, Anton H van Kaam, Suzanne M Mugie, Elske H Weber, Femke de Groof, Annemieke Kunst, Maria E N van den Heuvel, Clare E Counsilman, Maarten Rijpert, Irene A Schiering, Janneke Wilms, Fenna Visser, Cornelieke S H Aarnoudse-Moens, Aleid G Leemhuis, Wes Onland","doi":"10.1159/000546969","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000546969","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The objective of this study was to determine the impact of nasal high flow (nHF) implementation on lung growth at 6 months corrected age (CA) in preterm infants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center retrospective cohort study included preterm infants born <30 weeks' gestation and surviving to 6 months CA at the neonatal intensive care unit of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers. In the nCPAP cohort (2009-2012), continuous distending pressure (CDP) was applied solely with nasal continuous positive airway pressure support. In the nHF cohort (2015-2018), nCPAP was used and followed by nHF therapy to deliver CDP. Bodyweight and length at 6 months CA were used as a proxy for lung growth. We also assessed the impact on respiratory management and neonatal morbidity. Multivariate analysis was performed after multiple imputation, using a linear regression adjusting for confounding variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 598 eligible infants, 313 infants were included in the nCPAP cohort and 285 infants in the nHF cohort. The analyses showed no differences between the nCPAP and nHF cohort in body weight (7.29 vs. 7.31 kilogram, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.20, p = 0.71) and length (66.6 vs. 66.8 centimeters, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.81, p = 0.26) at 6 months CA. No differences in moderate/severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were reported, but nHF implementation was associated with longer CDP duration, a trend toward more days on supplemental oxygen, and a shift from moderate to severe BPD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Implementation of nHF did not impact body growth, which is associated with lung growth, at 6 months CA in preterm infants born <30 weeks.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12286588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144369989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-06-21DOI: 10.1159/000546934
Ira Winkler, Anna Posod, Anna Staudt, Eva Huber, Martina Urbanek, Ursula Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, Elke Griesmaier
{"title":"MicroRNA expression profiles in very preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus - a pilot study.","authors":"Ira Winkler, Anna Posod, Anna Staudt, Eva Huber, Martina Urbanek, Ursula Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, Elke Griesmaier","doi":"10.1159/000546934","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000546934","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Very preterm infants are at risk for developing hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA), which contributes to increased morbidity. The optimal management of hsPDA remains controversial, and treatment options are associated with complications. Developing accurate prediction tools for hsPDA closure is essential to guide management strategies. The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate microRNA expression profiles in very preterm infants with and without hsPDA and to assess their potential as biomarkers for hsPDA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We prospectively enrolled preterm infants with a birth weight of ≤1250 g and a gestational age of <30 weeks at Innsbruck Medical University Hospital, Austria. Infants with spontaneous ductus closure within the first week comprised the control group, while those with persistent hsPDA formed the hsPDA group. Total RNA was extracted from dried blood spots (umbilical cord blood and infant blood of week 1), followed by microRNA sequencing and differential gene expression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 25 infants (control group: n = 14; hsPDA group: n = 11). Differential expression analysis of umbilical cord blood identified significant downregulation of hsa-miR-218-5p in the hsPDA group compared to the control group (Log2 Fold Change = -3.444; FDR = 0.099, Benjamini-Hochberg corrected). In the analysis of infant blood of week 1, no significant differences in miRNA expression profile between hsPDA and control group were detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MicroRNAs could be potential biomarkers for hsPDA closure in preterm infants. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings of this pilot study and to assess clinical applicability.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144369990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unveiling the Hidden Burden: An Umbrella Review of Congenital Anomalies among Newborns in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.","authors":"Alemu Birara Zemariam, Tegene Atamenta Kitaw, Ribka Nigatu Haile, Befkad Deresse Tilahun, Gizachew Yilak, Mulat Ayele, Molla Azmeraw Bizuayehu, Habtamu Setegn Ngusie, Addis Wondmagegn Alamaw","doi":"10.1159/000543832","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000543832","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Congenital anomalies (CAs) are a major cause of newborn mortality and long-term disabilities, especially in developing countries. Research on CAs is limited and inconclusive. This umbrella review evaluates the pooled prevalence, patterns, and determinants of CAs among newborns in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a comprehensive search across databases, including PubMed and Cochrane Library, until 31 December 2024. Study quality was assessed using the AMSTAR checklist. Heterogeneity was measured with the I2 test and Cochrane Q test, while publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots, Egger's, and Begg's tests. The pooled prevalence of CAs and determinants was calculated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven studies revealed a pooled prevalence of CAs at 15 per 1,000 births (95% CI: 9.00, 21.00), with the highest rate in low-income countries at 18 per 1,000 (95% CI: 8.00, 27.00). Musculoskeletal and urogenital anomalies were the most prevalent, at 8 and 4 per 1,000 births, respectively. Key predictors include lack of folic acid supplementation (AOR 4.18, 95% CI: 2.35, 6.02), kchat chewing (AOR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.97, 4.03), maternal illness (AOR 3.55, 95% CI: 3.37, 4.73), and drug use during pregnancy (AOR 4.37, 95% CI: 1.21, 7.54).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The pooled prevalence of CAs is significantly higher than WHO reports, with musculoskeletal and urogenital defects being the most common. Key risk factors include maternal illness, unidentified drug use, kchat chewing, and lack of folic acid supplementation. Enhancing folic acid intake and targeting these risk factors are essential for policymakers.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeonatologyPub Date : 2025-06-05DOI: 10.1159/000546309
Terri Williams, Jemma Weidinger, Jessica R Metcalfe, Samantha Thomas, Jenny Mountain, Andrew Currie, Michael O'Sullivan, Tobias Strunk
{"title":"Routine Emollient Therapy with Coconut Oil in Preterm Infants and Allergic Sensitization at 1-Year Corrected Age.","authors":"Terri Williams, Jemma Weidinger, Jessica R Metcalfe, Samantha Thomas, Jenny Mountain, Andrew Currie, Michael O'Sullivan, Tobias Strunk","doi":"10.1159/000546309","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000546309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Skin care for very and extremely preterm infant is an important and previously underappreciated topic. Coconut oil skin care for preterm infants is a promising option, but several important questions remain including the theoretical potential for allergic sensitization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective study conducted skin prick testing and allergy questionnaires in a cohort of very preterm infants who received routine skin care with virgin coconut oil during their neonatal admission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety infants (median GA 28.2 weeks, median BW 1,048 g) were assessed at corrected age 15 months. A total of 8 children had positive skin prick tests to 1 or more of the most common allergens (egg, peanut, cashew, dust mite). No child was sensitized to coconut oil or extract.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We did not find evidence of allergic sensitization following neonatal skin care with coconut oil in children born preterm.</p>","PeriodicalId":94152,"journal":{"name":"Neonatology","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12215165/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144236345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}