Screening for Metabolic Bone Disease in Preterm Infants

Abstract

Objective. To determine which method(s) of metabolic bone disease (MBD) screening and treatment seem(s) to be most common in current neonatal intensive care units (NICU) across the country. Methods. Used an anonymous survey to determine current practices of NICUs across the country regarding MBD screening and treatment methods. Results. Ninety-four percent of participants worked in NICUs where infants are checked for MBD. One hundred percent of participants used alkaline phosphatase to check for MBD in their NICUs, while other biochemical laboratory values were used less frequently. Conclusion. It is clear that further research is needed to identify biochemical laboratory values and/or radiological techniques that can be used as reliable MBD screening tools.