[Creatinine, urea and mineral levels during the first week of life in healthy premature calves and calves with a delayed asphyxia syndrome].

The physical condition of 44 calves delivered by caesarean section before term was monitored by clinical and repeated laboratory examinations (analysis of creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, chloride, and inorganic phosphorus) during the first seven days of life. The newborns were divided into two groups based on the clinical observations during the first hour of life, the blood pH and the base deficit: Group 1: 30 calves without respiratory distress syndrome (vital, non asphyxial); they did not develop any diseases in the course of the experiment. Group 2: 14 calves with respiratory distress syndrome (asphyxial); 9 of these animals died in the course of the experiment. The analysis of the parameters creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, chloride, and inorganic phosphorus did not reveal any disturbance in kidney function in vital or in asphyxial prematurely born calves. All findings corresponded to those in calves born at term. So these parameters are not very meaningful in relation to metabolic disorders in respiratory distress syndrome.