Text Box: EVALUATE THE TWO REGIMENS OF POSTNATAL SODIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON VLBW INFANTS Teh-Ming Wang, Hasin-Lan Chein, Chao-Huei Chen, Ching–Shiang Chi Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung (VGHTC), Taiwan Objective: To compare the two regimens of postnatal sodium (Na) supplementation on birth body weight (BBW) loss, serum sodium change and the side effects during the 1st week of life(WOL) on those very low birth body weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: From July 1,1999 to Mar 31, 2001,a prospective randomized control study was proceed in neonatal care unit (NICU) in VGHTC. All of VLBW infants who admitted to NICU was randomly assigned to receive a regimen A or B after getting the consent from the parents. Cases with congenital anomaly, asphyxia, acute renal insufficiency or failure, hypo- or hypernatremia, recurrent metabolic acidosis, congenital heart disease and infants who died within 7 days of life were excluded. Regimen A: Na intake of 3-4 mmol/kg/day on 2nd day of life (DOL); Regimen B: no Na supply until the 8th DOL. Statistic methods: Yates’ correction c2 and student t test. Results: There were 75 infants below 1500 gm and 11 cases were excluded. Table 1 PDA closure rate Indomethacin Regimen A (n=8) Regimen B (n=11) P value x 1 1 (12.5%) 8(72.7%) x 2,x3, surgery 7(87.5%) 3(27.3%) 0.019 By Fishers’ exact test; CHF: congestive heart failure Table 2 Serum Na level Na (mmol/dl) Regimen A(n=27) Regimen B(n=37) 130-140 9(33.3%) 25(67.5%) 141-150 2(7.4%) 6(16.2%) 130-150 11(40.7%) 4(10.8%) <130 4(14.8%) 2(5.4%) >150 1(3.7%) 0(0%) Yates’ correction c2: p=0.030 In regimen B, but not the regimen A, there was a significant less Na fluctuation within the 1st WOL (p=0.030) and early PDA closure rate (p=0.0019). Conclusion: Delayed introduction of Na until DOL 8 is safe, less fluctuated serum Na level and has an eraly closure rate of PDA. 2412