Resumen La aparición de alteraciones de la función tiroidea en los niños es muy frecuente. Parece que hay datos suficientes para asegurar que el seguimiento de las hormonas tiroideas, al menos durante la infancia, es muy útil para evitar posibles problemas a largo plazo. Por tanto, cualquier beneficio potencial sería mayor que los posibles efectos dañinos. En los controles de salud de los niños, siempre debe investigarse la presencia de signos de sospecha de disfunción endocrinológica. En esta especialidad tan vinculada a los procesos de crecimiento y desarrollo, donde los signos de casi todas sus patologías son muy discretos en su comienzo, debe agudizarse al máximo la observación, ya que es importante el diagnóstico precoz para que los tratamientos resulten eficaces y puedan evitar las secuelas de la enfermedad. Solo si se investiga, la mayoría de las enfermedades endocrinológicas pueden ser descubiertas tempranamente. Únicamente el pediatra puede contribuir al diagnóstico precoz. La interpretación de normalidad/anormalidad del proceso de crecimiento y desarrollo del niño, es una herramienta de gran utilidad durante la infancia. En la etapa de estudio, así como en la de tratamiento, una vez confirmada la enfermedad, el pediatra debe integrar el equipo ampliado de atención del niño. El pediatra por su parte, en estrecha comunicación con el grupo especializado, conducirá a la familia y al paciente en su nueva condición de enfermo crónico.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of antenatal glucocorticoid therapy (AGT) on mortality and chronic lung disease (CLD) in surviving preterm infants 23 to 28 weeks gestational age (WGA). This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study. A total of 2448 infants 23 to 28 WGA were born in 2002 to 2003; 27.7% did not receive AGT, 18.8% were exposed to partial AGT, and 53.5% were exposed to complete AGT. A total of 883 died and 22.9% of 1537 survivors were affected by CLD. Unadjusted univariate analysis showed AGT was associated with a reduction in mortality (p<0.001), either with partial or complete AGT courses, and also with a reduction in CLD in survivors (p<0.001), but only with complete AGT courses. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors and a propensity score for AGT, AGT was significant and independently associated with a reduction of mortality, but only for complete AGT course (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.87; p=0.004), and with a decrease in CLD if a complete AGT course was administered (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.89; p=0.009). A complete course of AGT in 23 to 28 WGA pregnancies is associated with decreased rates of neonatal mortality and CLD disease in surviving infants.

AIM: To determine risk or protective factors for the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was conducted at La Paz University Hospital including infants with a birth weight of <1500 g for three years. Cases with confirmed diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis were evaluated; each one was paired with a control infant of the same gestational age. Statistical analysis included unadjusted and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 576 very low birth weight infants were admitted; of them 30 infants (5.2%) developed necrotizing enterocolitis. The main clinical and demographic characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The frequency of infants transfused with packed red blood cells was similar in cases (63%) and control patients (77%). However, a greater number of transfusions increased the odds of necrotizing enterocolitis [OR 1.5, 95%CI (1.01 to 2.24)]. CONCLUSIONS: A greater number of transfusions of packed red blood cells are associated with an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants. The other analyzed variables in this study do not identify the infants at risk. Caution is advocated in using transfusions in newborns.