Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(09): 0959-0964
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721132
Original Article

Birth Weight Standard Deviation Score is a Significant Determinant of Serum Urotensin-II Levels at Term-Equivalent Age in Preterm Infants

Akio Ebata
1   Department of Pediatrics, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Yuya Nakano
1   Department of Pediatrics, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Gakuto Ujiie
1   Department of Pediatrics, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Yoko Ishii
1   Department of Pediatrics, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Takeshi Shimizu
2   Pediatric Heart Disease and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
,
Takanari Fujii
2   Pediatric Heart Disease and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
,
Katsumi Mizuno
› Author Affiliations

Funding This work was supported by a grant from the Morinaga Foundation for Health & Nutrition.
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Abstract

Objective Urotensin II (U-II) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, and increased U-II levels are associated with atherosclerosis and hypertension in adults. Low birth weight (LBW) infants have higher risks of such diseases in the future. A small number of nephrons is one of possible mechanism underlying these risks in LBW infants, while vascular elasticity and cardiac function might be another important factor. The objective of this study is to evaluate U-II levels in preterm LBW infants at an early stage of life and determine perinatal factors associated with U-II levels.

Study Design The study population consisted of 57 preterm LBW infants (26 males and 31 females), including 49 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 8 small for gestational age (SGA) infants, born at a gestational age of ≤34 weeks with a mean birth weight of 1,589 g. Serum U-II levels were measured at term-equivalent age to evaluate perinatal factors related to serum U-II levels.

Results Preterm SGA infants had significantly higher serum U-II levels than preterm AGA infants at term-equivalent age (p = 0.019). Serum U-II levels in preterm LBW infants at term-equivalent age were inversely correlated with birth weight standard deviation (SD) score in a simple regression analysis (r =  − 0.395, p = 0,002) and the correlation was maintained in the multiple regression analysis.

Conclusion Our results indicate that birth weight SD score might be associated with serum U-II levels in preterm LBW infants at term-equivalent age. Further studies are required to determine whether U-II levels at an early stage of life might influence the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Key Points

  • U-II is a potent vasoconstrictor.

  • We evaluated serum U-II levels in preterm infants.

  • Fetal growth is negatively related to serum U-II levels.



Publication History

Received: 04 December 2020

Accepted: 16 October 2020

Article published online:
26 November 2020

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