Comparing the Efficacy of High and Low Doses of Vitamin A in Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common serious squeal of preterm infants. It involves approximately one quarter of infants with birth weight less than 1500 grams and 30% of less than 1000 grams. Vitamin A has been shown to reduce BPD rate. We compared efficacy of low and high doses of vitamin A for prevention of BPD in very low birth weight preterm infants. Materials and Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 120 preterm infants with gestation age 32 weeks or less and birth weight less than 1,500 grams were enrolled in the study. Group A (n=60) received 1,500 IU vitamin A intramuscularly three times per week and group B (n=60) received 5,000 IU vitamin A intramuscularly 3 times/week. Vitamin A was continued for 4 weeks in all patients. Oxygen dependency at age 28 days after birth and at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age was determined in all studied infants. Results: The mean gestation age and birth weight in group A was 29.2 ± 2.1 weeks and 1095 ± 211 gr and in group B 28.7 ± 2.1week and 1147 ± 218 grams (P>0.05). Moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia was detected in 6 (10%) neonates in group A and 13(21.6%) infants in group B, P= 0.09. Mortality rate was 4 (6.6%) infants in group A and 3 (5%) patients in group B (P>0.05). Conclusion: In our study, high and low doses of vitamin A were similar with respect to the BPD, intra-ventricular hemorrhage, and retinopathy of prematurity and total number of days for hospital stay in very low birth weight preterm infants.