Biomedical subjects

A D Elliman

Publications and source records attributed to A D Elliman.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Gestational age correction for height in preterm children to seven years of age.

Correction for gestational age continues to make a difference to the height SD score (SDS) to the age of seven years in very preterm babies. The height SDS for children born at 28 weeks' gestation increased by 0.25 SDS when postconceptual age was used instead of real age. Extrapolating from these results, the effect of correction would be an increase of approximately 0.32 SDS for a seven-year-old of 24 weeks' gestation. Unsatisfactory growth may be masked by a steady or increasing real age SDS in a few children. The risks of stopping using postconceptual age at two or three years include both false confidence in genuine cases of growth retardation and misinterpretation of a decrease in height SDS as evidence of growth retardation. As the number of very preterm babies who survive increases so does the importance of these observations.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1991

Coordination of low birthweight seven-year-olds.

The coordination and laterality of a group of 171 seven-year-old children, free from major disability, with a birthweight of 2,000 g or less, were examined and compared with those of normal birthweight peers. More low birthweight children were left-handed and of mixed or undetermined hand, foot and eye dominance. Left-handedness may adversely affect some areas of performance of normal birthweight but not of low birthweight children. Low birthweight children performed significantly less well in tests of both fine and gross motor coordination. Girls tended to perform better than boys in fine motor tests. In the low birthweight group there was a correlation between IQ and coordination.

Child↗

PubMed1986

Narrow heads of preterm infants--do they matter?

The biparietal diameters (BPD) and occipitofrontal diameters (OFD) were measured in a group of 203 newborn infants weighing 501 to 2000g, and at intervals until the age of three years. The heads of 96 normal-birthweight children were also measured. 11 per cent of the low-birthweight group had marked early narrowing, i.e. OFD/BPD (a/b) ratios of greater than 1.55. These babies were lighter and less mature, but by three years of age there was no significant difference in head shape or developmental quotient between these babies and the rest of the group. Intracranial pathology did not appear to affect head shape. At all ages the low-birthweight children showed greater head narrowing than those of normal birthweight.

Cephalometry↗

PubMed1985

Denver developmental screening test and preterm infants.

The results of Denver developmental screening test and Griffiths mental development scales examination performed on 198 preterm children during the first three years of life and compared. Using real age the former identified children with developmental delay, but labelled up to 42% of babies as having questionable or abnormal development. Using corrected age very few children showed less than normal development, and in the first year those whose Griffiths scales results showed delay were often assessed as normal by the Denver test. In view of its less satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity it is suggested that both age lines should be drawn when using the Denver test with preterm children so that undue anxiety can be allayed while appropriate action is taken to ensure adequate follow up.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Low birth weight babies at 3 years of age.

The findings of the first 3 years of a 7-year follow-up study on a group of 331 infants born at or transferred to Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospitals weighing 500-2000 g are reported. The group included 37 stillbirths, and a further 76 died. Of the 218 survivors, some information has been available on 215 (99%); 94% and 84% were seen at 2 and 3 years respectively. Nine (4%) children have major and 13 (6%) a moderate handicap, including 11 (5%) with cerebral palsy, seven (4%) with developmental delay, three with severe hearing impairment and one with visual impairment. Mild iatrogenic damage was common. The children, particularly those who were small for their gestational age, were shorter and lighter than the normal population at 3 years, but when corrected for prematurity the difference, particularly in height, was insignificant.

Birth Weight↗