[Postnatal growth of very low birth weight newborn (LBW infant). Anthropometry after a period of 3 years, longitudinal study].

Growth of 230 very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) admitted to the neonatal wards of a metropolitan pediatric hospital at Santiago, Chile was studied prospectively up to 36 months of age, in the period 1980-1988. For further analysis patients were separated in groups A, 60 newborn infants with birth-weight below 1,001 g and B, 170 newborn infants with birth-weight between 1,001 and 1,500 g. We used Patri's growth charts, to compare the results with full term healthy newborns of 3,318 g average birth-weight from the same socio-economical status. The average weight of group A infants was below 2 SD at age one year and between one and two SD at 2 and 3 years of age. In group B infants weight was between one and 2 SD at one year of age and below 1 SD at 2 years. At age 3 years average weight was very close to normal. Group A infants were not successful to achieve the average height of the standard at age 3 year, but this same goal was obtained at 2 years of age in group B infants. Head circumference was within the normal average at ages 3 and 2 year in group A and B infants, respectively.