Refeeding syndrome in very-low-birth-weight intrauterine growth-restricted neonates

Objective:determine the incidence of refeeding syndrome, defined by the presence of hypophosphatemia in very-low-birth-weight (vlbw) infants with intrauterine growth restriction (iugr) compared with those without iugr.study design:in this retrospective cohort study, vlbw infants admitted over a 10-year period (271 iugr and 1982 non-iugr) were evaluated for specific electrolyte abnormalities in the first postnatal week.result:iugr infants were significantly more likely to have hypophosphatemia (41% vs 8.9%, relative risk (95% confidence interval: 7.25 (5.45, 9.65)) and severe hypophosphatemia (11.4% vs 1%, 12.06 (6.82, 21.33)) in the first postnatal week. the incidence of hypophosphatemia was significantly associated with the presence of maternal preeclampsia in all vlbw infants (odds ratio (or): 2.58 (1.96, 3.40)) when controlling for birth weight and gestational age.conclusion:refeeding syndrome occurs in vlbw infants with iugr and born to mothers with preeclampsia. close monitoring of electrolytes, especially phosphorus, is warranted in this population.