METABOLIC BONE DISEASE OF PREMATURITY

The survival rate of premature infants has significantly increased during the last few decades. As a consequence, new disorders such as osteopenia of prematurity have been emerging. Osteopenia (metabolic bone disease MBD) is common among extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW, <1000 g birth weight) despite current practices of vitamin and mineral supplementation. (9)The diagnosis of osteopenia of prematurity is based evidence for less bone mineral density compared to fetuses or infants at the same gestational age in the absence of laboratory parameters and/or clinical signs for rachitis or other metabolic bone disease. The incidence of osteopenia among infants born before 28 weeks of gestational age are high. The aim of this paper is to review the information regarding the prevention and treatment of osteopenia of prematurity. The latter is essential for the prevention of osteoporosis in adulthood, a significant problem of public health.