Object Patients with spina bifida are particularly vulnerable to developing immunoglobulin E (IgE)–mediated latex sensitization. Even though many risk factors leading to latex allergy in these patients have been described, it is still unclear whether the increased prevalence of latex sensitization is disease associated or due to the procedures used to treat spina bifida. The aim of this study was to assess prenatal latex sensitization in patients with spina bifida by examining IgE levels in umbilical cord blood. Methods Patients with spina bifida and matched healthy infants were recruited from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Children's Hospital Altona. Latex-specific and total IgE were assessed in umbilical cord blood using ImmunoCAP testing to evaluate the degree of prenatal latex sensitization. Results Twenty-two subjects, 10 with spina bifida and 12 healthy individuals, were included. Subjects were selected after matching for sex, gestational age, weight, parental allergy profile, number of prenatal examinations, and utilization of latex tools during pregnancy (propensity score estimates, p = 0.36). In patients with spina bifida, latex-specific and total IgE levels were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (p = 0.001). After normalization to total IgE, latex-specific IgE levels were higher, yet not significantly increased (p = 0.085). Conclusions Perinatally, there is a significant augmentation of total and latex-specific IgE in patients with spina bifida. After correcting for total IgE, latex-specific IgE was increased, yet not significantly higher than in matched, healthy controls. This pilot study gives novel insights in the immunological reactions related to spina bifida. The increased latex-specific IgE levels could possibly be associated with the occurrence of a latex allergy in the future.

FFM and FM can define nutritional depletion or obesity. We present longitudinal data from a large dataset of stable growing infants. Methods BC data (n = 857) from 574 infants (22-42 wks) enrolled in 4 longitudinal studies, 2/3rd were preterm, was considered as independent data points. Preterms on fortified breast milk or formula (80 kcal/dL), term infants on breast milk or formula (67 kcal/dL). Time points of measurement : after reaching full enteral feeding, at term and two further time points until a maximum of 6 months of corrected age. BC was measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (QDR 1500; Hologic). R software (GAMLSS) used for construction of growth curves. Results Length of preterms remain shorter than terms, both increases linearly at 0.7 cm/wk. Median FM/FFM in preterm is 500 g/2450 g (40 wks) and 1700 g/4500 g (60 wks) compared to 430 g/2790 g (40 wks) and 2400 g/4700 g (60 wks) for term. Preterm FMI centiles are higher than terms till 45-50 wks corrected. Preterm FFMI increases progressively till 40 wks, then remains constant over time like terms (Figure 1). Conclusion Growth pattern for preterm vary from term, justifying their higher nutritional requirement to support rapid FFM growth initially. FM being inverse of FFM, length normalised indices rather than percentages allow independent assessment of growth in each body compartment, while compensating for difference in body size of term and preterm infants. Background Growth of preterm infants should follow intrauterine rates. Postnatal loss of extracellular fluid shifts growth trajectories to a percentile below that in-utero. Which 'new' trajectory a preterm infant should adjust to after completed postnatal adaptation is unknown. Results 890 infants were eligible of 6915 meeting inclusion criteria. Infants had maximum weight loss by DoL 5, regained birth weight by DoL 11 and showed stable growth parallel to intrauterine percentiles during DoL 7-21. Surprisingly the new trajectory was independent from GA with a z-score difference from birth of (A) -0.96 ± 0.75 and (B) -0.88 ± 0.67 at DoL14. Linear regression models predicted weight at DoL 14 (R2=0.88) and 21 (R2=0.82). Conclusions 1) The study provides robust estimates of ideal postnatal growth trajectories for preterm infants. 2) The impact on long-term outcome using these trajectories for nutritional adjustment needs to be assessed, ideally in an RCT. PO-0460 IDENTIFYING TRAJECTORIES FOR HEALTHY POSTNATAL GROWTH OF PRETERM INFANTS PO-0461