Recent improvement in outcome for the small premature infant. Follow-up of infants with a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams.

1. Developmental and neurologic outcome was determined for 176 premature infants of birth weight less than 1,500 gm, born during 1965-1970. 2. No significant difference in outcome was found when infants of birth weight 1,000 to 1,500 gm were compared with those weighing less than 1,000 gm. 3. The overall outcome is generally favorable, with 67% of the entire group noew deemed developmentally and neurologically normal. 4. Improvement in outcome in the small premature infant seems related to aggressive perinatal care, particularly monitoring of biophysical, biochemical and metabolic factors in the fetus and neonate;