Short term outcome of microlithiasis and nephrocalsinosis in preterm neonates

Abstract

Nephrolithiasis is the presence of particles and images of echogenicity in the urinary tract collecting system and if the particle size is less than 2 to 3 mm is referred to as microlithiasis and nephrocalcinosis refers to calcium deposition in the renal parenchyma. At present, there is no information about the outcome and possible complications of renal calcification (microlithiasis and nephrocalcinosis) in premature infants in our society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of microlithiasis and nephrocalcinosis in preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional study, preterm infants with VLBW discharged from the NICU ward of hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Alzahra and Tabriz Children) who had been diagnosed with nephrocalcinosis and microlithiasis by ultrasound from September 1, 2016, to the end of April 2016, were included in the study. After obtaining parental consent, their control ultrasound was evaluated at two, six, and twelve months after diagnosis. Information on neonatal history, age at diagnosis of microlithiasis, birth weight, length of hospital stay, and medications used were recorded in the relevant checklist. The percentage of improvement in microlithiasis and nephrocalcinosis and its relationship with checklist information was determined by SPSS statistical software. Results: In this study, 50 premature infants with microlithiasis and nephrocalcinosis (14 female infants (28%) and 36 male infants (72%)) were examined who were born with an average of 30.78 ± 2.78 weeks of gestation. The mean age of neonatal microlithiasis was 2.60 ± 1/11 months. They were admitted to the NICU and neonatal ward for an average of 27.38 ± 16.06 and 10.50 ± 9.57 days, respectively. At the end of the study, blood and urine calcium levels were 8.11 ± 1.67 mg/dL and 9.87 ± 1.41 mg/dL, respectively. Of the 50 infants with nephrocalcinosis and microlithiasis, 40 (80%) recovered at the end of the 12-month study period. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of gender, mean age of onset of microlithiasis and nephrocalcinosis, mean gestational age, mean number of days hospitalized in NICU and neonates ward, use of aminophylline drugs, antibiotics, potassium citrate solution, hydrochlorothiazide (P value <0.05).