Alkaline Citrate Treatment to Lower the Risk of Nephrocalcinosis in Preterm Infants
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Preterm infants are at risk to develop nephrocalcinosis. Incidence numbers vary according to
birth weight and gestation age. Very low birth weight infants have the highest risk index,
with ~ 7-10 % of preterm infants developing nephrocalcinosis in the patient population. We,
the researchers at the University of Cologne, and others found significantly decreased
urinary citrate excretion (hypocitraturia) to be one of the main risk factors. Hence, we
hypothesized, that prophylactic treatment with oral alkaline citrate solution (Shol's
solution) would help to 1) increase urinary citrate excretion and 2) help to decrease the
incidence of nephrocalcinosis.