Ontogeny of salivary epidermal growth factor and XXXX .

@entity1 @entity3166
OBJECTIVE: To examine the ontogeny of salivary epidermal growth factor (sEGF) in premature @entity1 and to determine the relation of sEGF to the development of @entity3166 ( @entity3166 ). STUDY DESIGN: Salivary EGF was prospectively measured in 327 @entity1 with gestational ages from 23 weeks to term. @entity1 of < or = 32 weeks' gestation (n = 261) were followed with weekly sEGF measurements through 3 weeks of life. Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine variables significantly related to sEGF levels and to identify predictors of @entity3166 . RESULTS: Over the first 3 weeks of life, sEGF increased across gestational age and postnatal age categories. In multivariable models, gestational age was a significant predictor of sEGF levels (P < .009). In a cohort of 27 @entity1 who had @entity3166 , gestational age, race, and changes in sEGF levels between weeks of life 1 and 2 were predictive of the development of @entity3166 . These @entity1 had lower sEGF at week 1 and greater increases from week 1 to week 2 compared with @entity1 without @entity3166 . CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive relation between sEGF levels and gestational age. Patterns of sEGF levels over the first 2 weeks of life were significantly related to development of @entity3166 in very low birth weight @entity1 .
