Publication:

Hypoglycemia occurs frequently in very low birth weight premature infants with cholestasis

Background The study purpose was to examine the incidence of hypoglycemia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with cholestasis while on complete enteral nutrition.

Methods A retrospective study of 270 VLBW ( 4.1mg/dl (before full enteral feeds) predicts hypoglycemia while on full enteral feeds, with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 50%, and negative predictive value of 100%.

Conclusions Hypoglycemia is an unrecognized complication occurring in a high percentage of VLBW infant with history of cholestatic jaundice while receiving full enteral feeds. We propose that care-givers in the neonatal ICU monitor glucose levels in this select group of VLBW infants to avoid recurrent asymptomatic hypoglycemia.