NUTRITION IN LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS: II. Repeated Intravenous Injections of Fat Emulsion

Abstract. Gustafson, A., Kjellmer, I., Olegård, R. and Victorin, L. (Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, and of Medicine I, Sahlgren's Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden). Nutrition in low-birth-weight infants. II. Repeated intravenous injections of fat emulsion. Acta Paediat Scand, 63: 177, 1974.–The elimination of an exogenous fat emulsion from the blood stream after repeated intravenous injections was investigated in two groups of low-birth-weight infants: 11 appropriate-for-date (AFD) pre-term babies and 8 light-for-date (LFD) pre- and full-term infants. During a period with six injections hourly of 0.15 g fat/kg 'b.w. the total lipids of plasma increased only moderately in the AFD group, from 264 to 351 mg/100 ml, while in the LFD group a progressive rise of total lipids occurred from 244 to 466 mg/100 ml. The plasma turbidity increased correspondingly more in the LFD than in the AFD group. In 5 LFD babies, where a progressive accumulation of total lipids occurred with each injection of fat emulsion, heparin was given intravenously after eight fat injections. The plasma was rapidly cleared of fat although fat injections were continued. It is concluded that AFD infants are able to hydrolyse fat emulsions given at an hourly rate of 0.15 g/kg b.w., while this amount of fat to LFD babies will cause an accumulation of plasma lipds unless heparin is supplied simultaneously.