View clinical trials related to Growth Failure.
Filter by:Multiple factors contribute to growth failure in infants with BPD, including poor nutrient stores, inadequate intake, increased losses, and increased needs. Furthermore, compared to infants without BPD, those with BPD have increased resting metabolic rates and energy expenditure. Growth deficits manifest as lower weight, length, and head circumference, as well as changes in body composition. These deficits precede the development of BPD and persist post-discharge. While similar rates of growth are observed in very low birth weight infants with and without BPD once receiving equal calories, catch up growth does not occur in the BPD group. Thus, early growth deficits remained uncompensated. After iron, zinc is the most metabolically active trace element in the human body. It has a critical role in growth, through its actions on growth hormone, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and bone metabolism. Prematurity is a risk factor for zinc deficiency, as 60% of zinc accretion occurs in the third trimester. Impaired intake and absorption or excess excretion can further increase this risk. Finally, periods of rapid growth, as seen in preterm infants, increase the need for zinc. Biochemically, zinc deficiency is defined by a serum zinc level less than 55mcg/dl. However, while zinc depletion is associated with deficiency, the opposite may not be true. For example, in starving patients, clinical symptoms of zinc deficiency occur during re-feeding, suggesting overall requirements are related to needs, regardless of overall zinc status. This may be the case in preterm infants, who may have a subclinical deficiency despite serum zinc level. Thus, zinc deficiency should be considered in infants with poor growth despite receiving adequate protein and calories. The objective of this study is to determine whether enteral zinc supplementation leads to improved growth in infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The investigator's hypothesis is that enteral zinc supplementation in very preterm infants at high risk for BPD will significantly improve growth compared to standard of care.
Oral sodium supplementation is currently administered in cases of poor weight gain in infants particularly in patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgical procedures. The decision to start oral supplementation is based on urinary sodium levels although the level at which to start treatment is variable as the range in normal, healthy infants is unknown. This study aims to ascertain the normal range of sodium in urine specimens collected from healthy newborn babies. It is believed that by increasing the level of salt in the intestine, glucose can be more easily be absorbed and therefore weight gain improved. Babies with conditions where they are at risk of salt depletion (i.e. those with a stoma) are currently administered oral sodium supplementation if they are failing to gain weight and have an associated 'low' urinary sodium level. Low levels of urinary sodium are considered to represent a state of low body sodium levels, as the kidneys attempt to reabsorb most of the sodium in the urine before it is excreted. Current practice varies widely as to the level below which treatment should be instigated. Some centres advise below 20 mmol/L (Birmingham Children's Hospital and Nottingham Children's Hospital guidelines), others below 10 mmol/L (University Children's Hospital, Zurich). In Glasgow, babies with poor weight gain are given sodium supplementation if urinary sodium levels are below 40 mmol/L. There are no documented ranges for the levels of urinary sodium in healthy, newborn babies. By determining the reference range of urinary sodium levels in healthy, term babies who are gaining weight appropriately, the investigators hope to be able to have a better understanding about both the level below which supplementation should be considered and the target range that should be aimed for.
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to treat patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID). Those who have XSCID lack white blood cells that protect their bodies from invasion by all types of germs. IGF-1 is the main hormone responsible for the body's growth and metabolism. As a medication, IGF-1 is Increlex[(Trademark)] (mecasermin), Patients ages 2 to 20 who have not yet begun puberty, have a diagnosis of XSCID, and are shorter than the 3rd percentile for their age may be eligible for this study. This study will last about 3 years, and patients' visits will be scheduled at 3-month intervals. Patients will have a physical history and exam, X-rays, electrocardiogram, blood tests, and body measurements. Patients will take estradiol orally for 2 days, to help avoid false results of growth hormone (GH) levels in blood samples. Then provocation testing is done, with two tests back to back. It determines blood levels of GH and the body's response to testing with drugs called arginine and clonidine. Patients are admitted to the pediatric inpatient unit and will have an intravenous (IV) line placed in the arm. Arginine is given by IV over 30 minutes, and blood samples are taken. Right after arginine testing, the clonidine tablet is given. The IGF-1 generation test is then done to see if the body makes IGF-1 as a product in response to injections of GH for 5 consecutive days. This test does not require that patients are inpatients, but after Day 8, patients must be admitted to the pediatric unit to have blood sampling, start Increlex injections, and start close monitoring of blood sugar levels. They will learn how to do a self-injection and follow other advice. They will complete records about the injection site, symptoms, and side effects-keeping records for at least the first 2 days after going home, with each dose change, and as needed. Patients stick their fingertip and place a small drop of blood on a blood sugar monitoring strip. The strip is put into a glucometer-a small hand-held device to measure the blood sugar level. Patients will be instructed to always have a source of sugar available in case blood sugar is too low.