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Amino Acid and Acylcarnitine Profiles in Premature Neonates

How Illness and Nutritional Support Influence Amino Acid and Acylcarnitine Profiles in Premature Neonates

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00865150
Enrollment
1003
Registered
2009-03-19
Start date
2009-04-30
Completion date
2012-02-29
Last updated
2012-03-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Neonatal Screening, Parenteral Nutrition, Prematurity

Keywords

Prematurity, Neonatal screening, Parenteral nutrition, Amino acids, Acylcarnitine

Brief summary

Primary Hypotheses of the study include: * Metabolic profiles are influenced by gestational age, chronological age, type and degree of nutritional support and illness * Metabolic profiles differ between neonates who receive commercial formula and neonates who receive primarily human breast milk * Neonates who develop parenteral associated cholestasis have metabolic markers that identify at risk patients (high serum urea nitrogen, citrulline, histidine, methionine, and succinyl carnitine and low thyroxine, serine and glutamate) * Neonates that have hypothyroidism have abnormal metabolic profiles (low tyrosine levels)

Detailed description

Malnutrition is a common problem in the neonatal intensive care unit. Recent studies indicate that prematurely born neonates commonly develop a severe nutritional deficit during the first weeks after birth, referred to as extrauterine growth restriction. Despite an increase in growth during the second month of hospitalization, many neonates are ultimately discharged home having grown inadequately. The early nutritional deficit affects weight gain as well as growth in length and head circumference. Aggressive administration of parenteral amino acids to improve protein accretion rates in very preterm neonates has been supported in the literature. Although tolerance of high dose amino acids has been described, researchers acknowledge that sensitive tests to monitor amino acid toxicity are not readily available in the clinical setting. The goals of this study are: * To better define normal amino acid and acylcarnitine values and how they change in premature neonates * To measure the effect nutritional support has (human breastmilk vs. formula) on amino acid and acylcarnitines profiles * To measure the effect of illness (parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis) on amino acid and acylcarnitine profiles * To better define abnormal metabolic profiles (low tyrosine levels) in neonates that have hypothyroidism.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Pediatrix
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
23 Weeks to 31 Weeks
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Documentation of informed consent * Inborn * Less than or equal to twenty four (24) hours of age * Gestational age between twenty three (23) weeks and 0/7 days and thirty one (31) weeks and 0/7 days as per the best estimate by the neonatologist * If subject is transferred to another hospital, the ability to obtain follow-up data on outcomes * No known major anomalies (inborn error of metabolism, chromosomal abnormalities, cyanotic congenital heart disease, gastroschisis, omphalocele, diaphragmatic hernia or other major gastrointestinal anomalies, major neurological injury or anomaly, and multiple congenital anomalies)

Exclusion criteria

* Outborn (transferred for intensive care from another hospital) * Greater than twenty four (24) hours of age * Gestational age \< 23 weeks or \> 31 weeks * Any known major congenital anomalies

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Metabolic Profile - Serum amino acid, acylcarnitine and thyroxine levels. Day of birth, (first 24 hours), Day 7, (parenteral nutrition effect), Day 28, (enteral nutrition effect), Day 42, or discharge (established enteral feeding and growth)42 Days of Life

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Occurrence of any of the following: death, cholestatic liver disease, positive blood or CSF culture, NEC, IVH, or respiratory support at 36 weeks PMA.42 Days of Life

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026