小于胎龄儿生后早期肾脏功能初探

目的对小于胎龄儿(SGA)生后早期肾脏功能进行回顾性对照研究,以探寻SGA儿早期肾功能损害的诊断方法。方法选择早产SGA儿40例、足月SGA儿33例作为研究组,并以早产适于胎龄儿(AGA)80例、足月儿AGA 33例作为对照组。比较各组入院48 h内血清尿素氮(BUN)、血清肌酐(SCr)、估算肾小球滤过率(eGFR)、血压、单位体重尿量以及蛋白尿的发生情况。结果早产儿SGA组的BUN低于AGA组(P0.05),两组间SCr、eGFR、血压的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。与足月儿AGA组比较,SGA组的SCr较高、eGFR较低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);两组间BUN、血压的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。早产儿或足月儿AGA与SGA之间单位体重尿量的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。早产儿AGA与SGA之间蛋白尿发生率的差异无统计学意义(P0.05),足月儿AGA与SGA组均无蛋白尿发生。结论 SCr、eGFR对评估SGA早期肾脏损害较为敏感。足月儿SGA较AGA肾脏功能减低。     

早产小于胎龄儿校正0～24月龄追赶生长的纵向研究

目的 了解早产小于胎龄儿（small for gestational age, SGA）和适于胎龄儿（appropriate for gestational age, AGA）校正0～24月龄期间生长发育状况和差异,为早产儿早期健康干预提供依据。方法 回顾性选取2019年7月—2022年7月在广州市妇女儿童医疗中心定期保健的824例早产儿作为研究对象,其中SGA 144例,AGA680例。分析和比较SGA组和AGA组出生及校正0～24月龄的体格发育数据。结果 SGA组在校正0～18月龄期间的体重和身长均落后于同月龄AGA组（P<0.05）,而校正24月龄时,两组的体重和身长比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。校正24月龄时,85%(34/40) SGA早产儿和79%(74/94) AGA早产儿完成追赶生长。按胎龄分层分析的结果显示：胎龄<34周SGA亚组体重、身长在校正0～9月龄与胎龄<34周和≥34周AGA亚组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;胎龄≥34周SGA亚组体重、身长分别在校正0～18月龄和校正0～12月龄与胎龄<34周和≥34周AG...     

小于胎龄儿—血清T_3、T_4、TSH、GH的初步探讨

小于胎龄儿(SGA)是由于宫内慢性缺氧和营养不良引起胎儿生长发育障碍。这类新生儿可以是早产儿、足月儿或过期产儿。一般将出生体重小于该胎龄正常体重第10百分位或以下或较平均数低二个标准差以下者称为小于胎龄儿,出生体重在第3个百分位     

早产小于胎龄儿生长代谢的临床研究

目的 探讨早产小于胎龄儿（SGA）与适于胎龄儿（AGA）在住院期间生长代谢的差异,为临床对早产SGA进行营养干预提供依据。方法 1 370例早产儿纳入研究,根据胎龄与出生体重的关系分为SGA组（675例）与AGA组（695例）,比较两组早产儿住院期间的一般情况、体格增长及血生化指标等情况。结果 SGA组住院天数长于AGA组（P < 0.05）。与AGA组相比,SGA组出院体重、出院体重Z评分及出院身长均较低,宫外生长迟缓发生率较高（P < 0.05）,头围增长速率大于AGA组。与AGA组相比,SGA组达全肠内喂养时间及需肠外营养时间均较长（P < 0.05）。SGA组入院时白蛋白、前白蛋白、血清磷、出院前总胆汁酸高于AGA组,白蛋白低于AGA组（P < 0.05）。SGA组窒息、新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征、心肌损伤、喂养不耐受、肺炎、败血症、低血糖、低甲状腺素血症的发生率高于AGA组（P < 0.05）。结论 早产SGA住院期间体格发育明显落后于AGA,宫外生长迟缓发生率较高,更易出现并发症。     

早产小于胎龄儿与适于胎龄儿住院期间生长代谢的临床研究

目的 探讨早产小于胎龄儿（SGA）与适于胎龄儿（AGA）住院期间生长代谢的差异.方法 回顾性分析我院2008年1月至2012年12月收治的胎龄28 ～ 34周早产儿病例,根据胎龄与出生体重的关系分为SGA组与AGA组,比较两组早产儿一般情况、体格增长、血生化指标及合并症等.结果 纳入研究的早产儿共164例,SGA组78例,AGA组86例.2组早产儿入院胎龄、性别、发生呼吸窘迫综合征的比例、恢复出生体重日龄等差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.SGA组与AGA组相比,窒息比例高（25.6％比12.8％）,住院时间长[36.5（28,45.5）天比28（22,36）天],肠外营养时间长[26（19,35）天比22（16,30）天],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.恢复出生体重后,SGA组与AGA组相比平均每日体重增长速率快[（20.6＆#177;3.3） g/（kg＆#183; d）比（18.4＆#177;3.8）g/（kg＆#183;d）],每周头围增长速度快[（0.71＆#177;0.25） cm比（0.55＆#177;0.26） cm],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,每周身长增长速度差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.SGA组前白蛋白低于AGA组,胆汁酸高于AGA组,败血症和慢性肺疾病发生率均高于AGA组（20.5％比9.3％,11.5％比1.2％）,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,早产儿视网膜病和坏死性小肠结肠炎发生率差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 SGA早产儿恢复出生体重后生长速率及头围增长速度快于AGA早产儿,但身长增长速度无差异;SGA早产儿出生及出院时血前白蛋白水平均低于AGA早产儿;SGA早产儿更易发生胆汁淤积、败血症及慢性肺疾病.     

脐血IGF-1及IGFBP-3与胎儿生长发育的关系研究

目的探讨胰岛素样生长因子-1（IGF—1）及胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-2（IGFBP-3）与胎儿宫内生长发育的关系。方法将新生儿根据出生体重与胎龄的关系分为大于胎龄儿（IAG）、适于胎龄儿（AGA）、小于胎龄儿（SGA）三组,分别测定三组新生儿出生时身长、体重及胎盘重量,同时取脐血采用EUSA法测定IGF-1及IGFBP-3水平。结果①三组新生儿出生时身长、体重及胎盘重量3个指标比较差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）。②脐血IGF-1及IGFBP-3水平在SGA、AGA、LGA三组间比较,LGA组〉AGA组〉SGA组,各组间比较差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0.05）。③胎儿发育的重要指标出生体重、身长及胎盘重量与IGF-1及IGFBP-3水平均呈正相关。结论IGF-1及IGFBP-3与胎儿生长发育密切相关,对胎儿的生长发育起重要的调节作用。     

小于胎龄儿相关因素的研究

为了解不同类型胎儿体格发育（出生体重，身长，头围）情况及小于胎龄儿相关因素，自1999年5月－2000年12月，对在我院分娩的单胎活产新生儿及其母亲424对，进行前瞻性调查。结果显示：小于胎龄儿（SGA）36例，发生率为8．5％，适于胎龄儿（AGA）294例，大于胎龄儿（LGA）94例，SGA组除出生体重外，身长，头围三项指标均低，与AGA组有非常显著意义（P值均＜0．001），影响SGA体格发育Logistic回归分析：最主要危险因素为母孕早期剧吐，被动吸烟，贫血，羊水量过少和母患妊高征，母亲身高，文化程度，胎盘重量与胎儿体格发育呈正相关，SGA组新生儿生后五天内发病率最高为33．3％，与AGA组的2．7％比较有非常显著意义（P＜0．01），因此，防治常见妊娠合并症，加强孕期营养，提高自我保护意识，将有助于降低SGA发生。     

59例小样儿体格及智能发育随访观察

前言根据新生儿出生时胎龄及体重,低于该胎龄体重的第10百分位者为小样儿,也称小于胎龄儿(SGA)。可分为足月小样儿(Term SGA),早产小样儿(preterm SGA)及过期小样儿(posttermSGA)三类。据国外报道小样儿发生率占全部活产的4.5～10.0%,占低出生体重儿的1/3,上海第二医科大学     

杭州地区不同出生体质量小儿早期体格生长水平调查

目的 通过不同出生体质量小儿早期体格生长水平的调查、分析与比较，了解小于胎龄儿（SGA）、大于胎龄儿（LGA）和适于胎龄儿（AGA）生命早期生长发育的规律。方法 通过新生儿筛查中心，对浙江省杭州地区2000、2004、2005年出生的38898名新生儿进行调查，随机对其中794名新生儿进行随访，获得当地测量的该年龄时段体质量、身高的体检资料，并计算BMI及Z值。结果 2000、2004、2005年SGA的发生率为1．5％、2．0％和2．3％，LGA的发生率为4．7％、5．2％和4．2％。12～30月龄LGA组体质量、身长和BMI值均为3组之最，其次是AGA组，SGA组处于最低水平。72～78月龄LGA组体质量仍处于领先水平，SGA组身高、BMI追赶上余2组。结论 宫内生长与儿童早期生长密切相关，应针对不同出生体质量儿合理喂养，进行早期生长监测和干预。     

小于胎龄儿发病情况分析

目的　评估正常孕产妇分娩的小于胎龄儿 (SGA)的患病率及死亡率。方法　回顾分析 1998年～2 0 0 2年在我院分娩胎龄为 3 7～ 41周的SGA ,依据新生儿出生体重的百分位数将SGA分为大于第 5百分位 ,但小于第 10百分位SGA(SGA1) ;小于第 5百分位SGA(SGA2 )。将孕母患妊娠合并症及胎儿畸形者予以剔除。将同期正常孕产妇分娩的适于胎龄儿 (AGA)作为对照组。比较 3组胎龄、出生体重、身长 ,入新生儿重症监护病房 (NICU)率、低血糖、肺透明膜病 (RDS)、吸入性肺炎、机械通气、红细胞增多症、高胆红素血症、败血症及 1minApgar评分≤ 7分、发生率等指标。 结果　观察对象共 4546例 (AGA组 43 2 3例 ,SGA1组 13 0例 ,SGA2组 93例 )。 3组胎龄相似 (P均 >0 .0 5) ;SGA组出生体重、身长均明显低于AGA组 (P均 <0 .0 0 1) ;低血糖、RDS、吸入性肺炎、机械通气、高胆红素血症和败血症 3组之间无统计学差异 (P均 >0 .0 5)。SGA入新生儿重症监护病房率、红细胞增多症和新生儿窒息的发生率显著高于AGA组 ,且存在出生体重越低危险越大趋势。结论　与AGA相比 ,正常孕产妇分娩足月SGA某些新生儿疾病的发生率显著增加     

Factors Affecting Development: Similarities and Differences among Children Who Were Small, Average, and Large for Gestational Age at Birth

ABSTRACT. The development of 118 small-for-gestational age (SGA), 137 average-for-gestational age (AGA), and 118 large-for-gestational age (LGA) children was assessed at 7 years. The contributions of different factors to the variance in developmental scores were investigated by multiple regression analyses. All three groups showed the powerful influence of social class on intellectual ability at this age; and in the SGA and AGA groups the gross and fine-motor skills of girls were superior to boys. Smoking had a small effect in the AGA group, and in the two extreme groups first-born children did slightly better than later-born. Hypertension was associated with reduced scores in the SGA group, and LGA children who had spontaneous vaginal deliveries had higher scores than those delivered instrumentally or by caesarean section. There was a significant positive correlation between gestational age and developmental scores in the AGA group; but in the SGA group the relationship was in the reverse direction. Social class and sex affect the development of most children aged 7 years. Other factors seem to manifest an effect only under specified conditions.     

Factors affecting development: similarities and differences among children who were small, average, and large for gestational age at birth

The development of 118 small-for-gestational age (SGA), 137 average-for-gestational age (AGA), and 118 large-for-gestational age (LGA) children was assessed at 7 years. The contributions of different factors to the variance in developmental scores were investigated by multiple regression analyses. All three groups showed the powerful influence of social class on intellectual ability at this age; and in the SGA and AGA groups the gross and fine-motor skills of girls were superior to boys. Smoking had a small effect in the AGA group, and in the two extreme groups first-born children did slightly better than later-born. Hypertension was associated with reduced scores in the SGA group, and LGA children who had spontaneous vaginal deliveries had higher scores than those delivered instrumentally or by caesarean section. There was a significant positive correlation between gestational age and developmental scores in the AGA group; but in the SGA group the relationship was in the reverse direction. Social class and sex affect the development of most children aged 7 years. Other factors seem to manifest an effect only under specified conditions.     

小于胎龄儿青春前期女孩硫化脱氢表雄酮和胰岛素水平的研究

目的探讨小于胎龄儿(SGA)青春前期女孩肾上腺机能初现及是否具有肾上腺机能早现、高肾上腺雄激素血症、高胰岛素血症和胰岛素抵抗现象。方法以符合纳入标准的SGA 39例为研究对象,年龄(7.4±1.7)岁,42例适于胎龄儿(AGA)为对照组,年龄(7.4±1.7)岁。在隔夜空腹12 h后,行身体检查,并抽血检测空腹血糖、胰岛素、硫化脱氢表雄酮(DHEAS)、皮质醇和雌二醇。胰岛素敏感性用空腹血糖与胰岛素乘积的倒数再取自然对数来评价。结果两组中未发现肾上腺机能早现的临床表现,两组间孕母孕龄、年龄、体重指数、空腹血糖、皮质醇、雌二醇和胰岛素敏感性指数差异无统计学意义。SGA组出生体重、研究时的身高和体重均低于AGA组,SGA血清胰岛素和DHEAS水平均高于AGA组(对数转换值:1.076±0.041vs.1.050±0.051,P<0.05;2.637±0.271vs.2.514±0.250,P<0.05)。AGA组DHEAS值在7岁以后出现明显增加,SGA组DHEAS值出现增加的趋势与AGA组比较有所提前。结论AGA女孩肾上腺机能初现的年龄约为7岁,而SGA女孩肾上腺机能初现有始动提前的趋势,青春前期SGA女孩有高肾上腺雄激素血症和胰岛素水平升高的现象,但以胰岛素敏感性指数来评价,尚未发现胰岛素抵抗现象。     

Proportionality at birth. Associations with weight, gestational age and sex

501 small (SGA), 330 average (AGA) and 460 large for gestational age (LGA) babies were measured at birth. Head-chest, head-crown-rump length, and chest-crown-rump length ratios were used to evaluate the changing patterns of proportionality with increasing gestational age. The SGA group showed strong negative correlations for head-chest and head-length ratios, and positive correlations for chest-length ratios. The patterns were similar in the AGA group, only less evident. For all three measures of proportionality, correlations with gestational age in the LGA group were close to zero. In each group boys had higher head-chest ratios than girls.     

The premature small-for-gestational-age infant during the first year of life: comparison by birth weight and gestational age

To determine the effect of intrauterine growth retardation on the outcome of the premature infant, we compared a group of 35 premature, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants with two groups of premature, appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants: one with similar birth weight (AGA-BW group) and the other with similar gestational age (AGA-GA group). Groups were matched by year of birth, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Infants were free of major congenital anomalies and intrauterine infection. They were evaluated at term, at 20 and 40 weeks, and at 1 year corrected age. The SGA infants had a lower mean developmental quotient than the two groups of AGA infants. The SGA infants had significantly smaller body dimensions at birth, more nursery complications, and a higher incidence of major neurologic problems than their AGA-GA matches but were comparable to the AGA-BW matches. Poor growth constitutes an additional risk factor to prematurity. The results highlight the importance of comparing premature SGA infants with premature AGA infants of similar gestational age rather than similar birth weight.     

多中心大于胎龄儿新生儿期死亡原因及风险的病例对照研究

目的探讨大于胎龄儿（LGA）新生儿期死亡原因及死亡风险。方法病例对照研究。《中国新生儿死亡原因多中心调查》数据库包括39家三级医院新生儿科胎龄≥24周的所有死亡病例数据，以数据库中的LGA为病例组（单胎出生，晚期早产儿或足月儿），分别以数据库中全部适于胎龄儿（AGA）和配对的AGA（1∶1）为对照组（匹配条件：单胎、胎龄、性别、来源医院），比较LGA和AGA新生儿期死亡原因。通过整体人群中LGA和AGA活产婴儿比例，估计整体人群LGA死亡风险。采集母亲因素、围生期因素、新生儿因素和死亡原因。根据WHO ICD-PM分类标准分为11类新生儿期死亡原因。结果2016年7月1日至2019年6月30日数据库中新生儿期死亡的LGA和AGA分别为126和1 183例。LGA组新生儿除出生体重、母亲妊娠期糖尿病患病率外均与匹配AGA组差异无统计学意义。多因素回归分析，矫正出生体重和妊娠期糖尿病因素，LGA组早期新生儿死亡风险较匹配AGA组增加1.94倍（OR=2.938，95%CI: 1.346~6.416,P=0.007）。LGA的主要死亡原因排序为先天性疾病（29.4%）、围产期窒息（21.4%）、呼吸系统疾病和心血管疾病（14.3%）、重症感染（11.9%）。LGA组新生儿全因死亡风险与匹配AGA组差异无统计学意义，LGA组死于重症感染（N6：细菌性败血症,细菌脑膜炎，肺炎，病毒感染等）的风险低于匹配AGA组（OR=0.541，95%CI：0.320~0.912，P=0.019）。结论国内三级医院晚期早产儿和足月单胎LGA的主要死亡原因构成及其比例与AGA相比总体一致，LGA并不增加新生儿期的死亡风险，且死于重症感染风险低于AGA。     

Excess mortality and morbidity among small-for-gestational-age premature infants: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of intrauterine growth restriction on mortality and morbidity in the Israel cohort of very low birth weight premature infants. METHODS: The study population included 2764 singleton very low birth weight infants without congenital malformations born from 24 to 31 weeks of gestation during 1995 to 1999. Four hundred six (15%) were born small for gestational age (SGA). The effect of SGA on death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: After adjustment for perinatal risk factors, SGA infants had a 4.52-fold risk for death (95% CI, 3.24-6.33), a 3.42-fold risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (95% CI, 2.29-5.13), and a 2.06-fold risk for grade 3 to 4 retinopathy of prematurity (95% CI, 1.15-3.66). CONCLUSIONS: SGA premature infants had an increased risk for death, and major morbidity among survivors was increased.     

多中心大于胎龄儿新生儿期死亡原因及风险的病例对照研究

目的探讨大于胎龄儿（LGA）新生儿期死亡原因及死亡风险。方法病例对照研究。《中国新生儿死亡原因多中心调查》数据库包括39家三级医院新生儿科胎龄≥24周的所有死亡病例数据,以数据库中的LGA为病例组（单胎出生,晚期早产儿或足月儿）,分别以数据库中全部适于胎龄儿（AGA）和配对的AGA（1∶1）为对照组（匹配条件：单胎、胎龄、性别、来源医院）,比较LGA和AGA新生儿期死亡原因。通过整体人群中LGA和AGA活产婴儿比例,估计整体人群LGA死亡风险。采集母亲因素、围生期因素、新生儿因素和死亡原因。根据WHO ICD-PM分类标准分为11类新生儿期死亡原因。结果2016年7月1日至2019年6月30日数据库中新生儿期死亡的LGA和AGA分别为126和1 183例。LGA组新生儿除出生体重、母亲妊娠期糖尿病患病率外均与匹配AGA组差异无统计学意义。多因素回归分析,矫正出生体重和妊娠期糖尿病因素,LGA组早期新生儿死亡风险较匹配AGA组增加1.94倍（OR=2.938,95%CI: 1.346~6.416,P=0.007）。LGA的主要死亡原因排序为先天性疾病（29.4%）、围产期窒息（21.4%）、呼吸系统疾病和心血管疾病（14.3%）、重症感染（11.9%）。LGA组新生儿全因死亡风险与匹配AGA组差异无统计学意义,LGA组死于重症感染（N6：细菌性败血症,细菌脑膜炎,肺炎,病毒感染等）的风险低于匹配AGA组（OR=0.541,95%CI：0.320~0.912,P=0.019）。结论国内三级医院晚期早产儿和足月单胎LGA的主要死亡原因构成及其比例与AGA相比总体一致,LGA并不增加新生儿期的死亡风险,且死于重症感染风险低于AGA。     

The contribution of preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction to childhood undernutrition in Tanzania

Objectives were to examine the growth patterns of preterm and growth‐restricted infants and to evaluate the associations of prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) with risk of stunting, wasting and underweight. Data from a cohort of HIV‐negative pregnant women–infant pairs were collected prospectively in Tanzania. Small for gestational age [SGA, birthweight (BW) <10th percentile] was used as proxy for IUGR. Anthropometry was measured monthly until 18 months. Length‐for‐age (LAZ), weight‐for‐length (WLZ), and weight‐for‐age (WAZ) z‐scores were calculated using the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards. Stunting, wasting and underweight were defined as binary outcomes using a cut‐off of z‐scores. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the associations between preterm and SGA to time to stunting, wasting and underweight. The study included 6664 singletons. Preterm and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants had slightly better nutritional status than term‐SGA infants and despite some catch‐up growth, preterm‐SGA infants had the poorest nutritional status. The gap in LAZ and WAZ z‐scores among the groups remained similar throughout the follow‐up. Compared with term‐AGA babies, relative risk (RR) of stunting among preterm‐AGA babies was 2.13 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.93–2.36), RR among term‐SGA was 2.21 (95% CI 2.02–2.41) and the highest risk was among the babies who were both preterm and SGA (RR = 7.58, 95% CI 5.41–10.64). Similar magnitude of RR of underweight was observed among the three groups. Preterm and SGA infants should be closely monitored for growth failure. Intervention to reduce preterm and SGA birth may lower risk of undernutrition in resource‐limited settings.     

Longitudinal investigation of the relationship between breast milk leptin levels and growth in breast-fed infants

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that leptin is present in breast milk and human mammary epithelial cells are able to synthesize leptin. It has been suggested that leptin in human milk might be involved in the regulation of postnatal nutrition and growth. AIMS: To investigate whether there is a relationship between leptin levels in human milk and weight gain in the postnatal period and to compare variations of milk-borne maternal leptin concentrations for small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. INFANTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven healthy lactating women aged from 17-38 years and their infants were included in the study. The infants were separated into three groups according to birth weight as SGA (n = 11), LGA (n = 14) and AGA (n = 22). All infants were fed with breast milk during the study period. Anthropometric measurements were performed on the 15th day of life and at 1, 2, and 3 months of age, and the body mass index (BMI) of the infants' mothers was calculated. Breast milk leptin levels were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Breast milk leptin levels were found reduced in the SGA group and increased in the LGA group compared to the AGA group at 15 days of life (13.4 +/- 2.2, 28.5 +/- 4.4 and 18.4 +/- 2 ng/ml, respectively; p <0.05). At 1 month of age, leptin levels in breast milk were significantly lower in the LGA group than in the AGA group (15.5 +/- 4.9, 19.4 +/- 1.7 ng/ml, respectively; p<0.05). There was no difference among the three groups at 2 and 3 months of age (p>0.05). There was a positive correlation between birth Weight and breast milk leptin levels on the 15th day (r = 0.47, p = 0.001). A negative correlation was found between weight gain during the first 15 days and 1 month of life and breast milk leptin levels on the 15th day (r = -0.44, p = 0.002; r = -0.40, p = 0.005, respectively). No relationship could be determined between breast milk leptin levels and BMI of the mothers. CONCLUSION: Maternal milk of SGA, LGA and AGA infants had different leptin levels, especially during the first month of life. More rapid growth was shown in the SGA infants during the first postnatal 15 days compared to AGA and LGA infants, and human milk leptin levels were significantly reduced in the SGA group. However, LGA infants gained more weight during the second 15 days of life and breast milk leptin levels were dramatically decreased in LGA and increased in SGA infants at the end of first month of life. These findings suggest that the presence of leptin in breast milk might have a significant role in growth, appetite and regulation of nutrition in infancy, especially during the early lactation period, and the production of leptin in breast tissue by human mammary epithelial cells might be regulated physiologically according to necessity and state of the infant.