Abstract：OBJECTIVE: To study the growth rhythm of preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants by investigating their physical catch-up growth characteristics. METHODS: Eighty-four preterm AGA newborns (44 males and 40 females) with gestational ages between 28-36 weeks were enrolled. The weight, length and head circumference were evaluated by Z score according to the criterions of actual and corrected ages. RESULTS: The preterm infants had the catch-up growth in weight, length and head circumference in the first year of life. The growth velocity within the first three months was the highest. The velocity in the weight catch-up was higher than that in the length. CONCLUSIONS: The fastest growing period is the early three month of life in preterm AGA infants. The catch-up growth in weight and length is unbalanced.
TONG Mei-Ling,ZHANG Min,CHI Xia et al. Longitudinal study of the physical catch-up growth in 84 preterm appropriate for gestational age infants[J]. CJCP, 2011, 13(1): 12-15.
［12］Saigal S, Stoskopf B, Streiner D, Paneth N, Pinelli J, Boyle M. Growth trajectories of extremely low birth weight infants from birth to young adulthood: a longitudinal, populationbased study［J］. Pediatr Res, 2006, 60(6): 751-758.
