Follow-up Studies of Very Low Birth Weight Infants (1,250 Grams or Less) Born and Treated Within a Perinatal Center

Abstract

The growth and development of inborn very low birth weight infants was evaluated in 50 of 60 survivors from 132 babies weighing ≤1,250 gm born July 1974 to December 1977. Mean ± SE birth weight and gestation was 1,066 ± 19.3 gm and 29.5 ± 0.3 weeks, respectively, with 13 infants small-for-gestational age. Of the survivors, 26% weighed ≤1,000 gm. Male to female ratio was 1:1.4. Apgar scores ≤5 at five minutes occurred in 16% of the infants. Respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 56%, but only 10% (5/50) required mechanical ventilation. At 1 year, 46% small for gestational age (SGA) and 8% appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants were less than the third percentile for weight. Major neurologic abnormality occurred in three infants (6%), one of whom is also blind. Grade V retrolental fibroplasia occurred in two others. Severe developmental delay (development quotient <80, Gesell) occurred in these five infants and two other neurologically normal babies. Of 15 infants weighing ≤1,000 gm, two had major handicaps. Eight percent of the AGA infants and 30% of the SGA infants had major handicaps. These data indicate that infants born and treated in a perinatal center have a decreased incidence of asphyxia and severe respiratory distress syndrome and that the incidence of major handicaps is reduced, especially in the appropriate for gestational age baby.