Objectives. To investigate the correlations between the elevated urinary β2-MG and the risk of development of neonatal complications.
Methods. Seventy-five very low birth weight (<1500 g) premature infants were enrolled. Urinary β2-MG was measured with immunometric assay within 48 hours and at 28 days of age. Simultaneous urinary creatinine (Cr) was measured and used for the normalization of β2-MG excretion.
Results. The mortality rate was 8% (6/75). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there were positive association of elevated urinary β2-MG with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.02-1.63 for 48 hrs; OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.42 for 28 days ), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.24 for 48 hrs; OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.84 for 28 days ), and chronic lung disease (CLD) (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.24-2.13 for 48 hrs; OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.39-1.94 for 28 days ). No similar association was found in respiratory distress syndrome, symptomatic PDA, pulmonary hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis or retinopathy of prematurity.
Conclusions. Urinary β2-MG was significantly higher at early life and sustained higher thereafter at least until 28 days of age in premature infants who developed PVL, NEC or CLD than in those who did not.
