Is There a Microbiome Associated With Poor Growth in Preterm Infants?

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Growth Disorders; Prematurity; Growth Failure

Treatments: Other: Caloric Requirement

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03761498

STU 042018-061

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the relationship between growth and stool microbiota in premature infants.

Full description

Preterm infants often require increased caloric intake to maintain appropriate growth while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While some infants will have a clear source of need for greater calories, it is often not obvious why others require increased available calories to maintain appropriate growth. Emerging evidence suggests that patterns of gut microbiota may play a role in infant and childhood growth. We hypothesize that differences in the microbial pattern in preterm infants is related to poor growth and need for increased caloric intake. This may ultimately represent a therapeutic target to improve the growth of preterm infants in the NICU. This study aims to describe the differences in microbiome which may vary with growth pattern.

Enrollment: 118 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

All infants less than 28 weeks gestation who are admitted to the Parkland Hospital NICU.

Exclusion criteria

Infants >27 weeks gestation. Infants with major congenital anomalies which may alter growth patterns.

Trial design

118 participants in 2 patient groups

Normal Growth

Description:

Require less than or equal to 110 kcal/kg/day to maintain growth curve

Slow Growth

Description:

Require more than 110 kcal/kg/day to maintain growth curve

Treatment:

Other: Caloric Requirement