Late preterm infants

Key words: Late preterm, SGA (small for gestational age), Hypocalcemia, Hypoglycemia, Jaundice

Late preterm (LP) infants, defined by birth between 34+0 and 36+6 weeks’ gestation (WG), represent about 70% of premature infants. Causes of preterm deliveries are: twin births, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), placental abruption, maternal diabetes, gestosis, and unknown causes. LP may need assisted ventilation and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Possible clinical problems in LP are: hypocalcemia, jaundice, hypoglycemia. Clinical and epidemiological parameters are in relation to the WG: LP infants represent then a heterogeneous population. Data in the literature suggest that WG is the main fact that influences clinical behavior of LP infants and that the cause of preterm birth is another important element of interpretation.