Very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) growth velocity

An analysis of VLBWI weight growth kinetics is reported and effects on growth of some conditions at birth and pathologies are assessed. 262 VLBWI weight was recorded daily up to 28 days, weekly up to discharge, then up to 24 months of corrected age. Individual growth profiles have been fitted with a 7-constant exponential-logistic function suitable for designing growth curves. Effects of some conditions at birth and pathologies were estimated by means of a multivariate linear model. All VLBWI showed a late velocity peak between 7(th) and 21(st) week. Peak's height is reduced in a group of SGA babies or afflicted with major morbidities during a critical period between 2(nd) and 21(st) week. Lower GA, BPD and being SGA act modifing age at occurrence and size of the peak.