Pharmacists of neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) at Asan Medical Center monitored appropriateness of TPN orders from January 1999. The objective of this study was to generate growth curves and to quantity the factors associated with the growth of very small premature infants during initial hospitalization. We reviewed patients charts and daily collection forms retrospectively. Study patients included 67 infants who were surviving singleton, appropriated for gestational age, weighted <1,651g at birth, born January 1st in 1999, to May 31th in 2000, who did not develop necrotizing enterocolitis. They were grouped for birth weight; <875g, 875~1,124g, 1,125~1,374g, 1,375~1,624g, respective A, B, C, D groups. The each patients' amount of macronutrient intakes, and body weight were recorded daily up to 105 days of age or hospital discharge, whichever occurred first. Monitored parameters were; gestational age, sex, Apgar score, respiratory support and parenteral nutrition support duration, started day of feeding, presence of patent ductus arteriosus, infection, and treatment of dexamethasone. Growth was determinated as change in weight during the period. Four growth curves were generated. Postnatal ages of recovery to birth weight 21, 20.2, 18, 12.2 days respective groups. There was positive association with respiratory support duration. Mean changes of weight were 14.4, 15.9, 16.4, 16.3g/day. There were negative associations with respiratory support and parenteral nutrition support duration, presence of the treatment of dexamethasone and positive associations with the amount of macronutrient intake. Stepwise regression explained that the growth was correlated with positive calories intake and negative parenteral nutrition support duration. The new weight curves are the reflection of current in -hospital growth trends in korean preterm babies. It is important that the pharmacist fulfills their appropriate nutrition support.
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