Objective: to develop a reference curve for SPL in Brazilian preterm newborns, assessing their postnatal growth adjusted for corrected gestational age (cGA).
Materials and methods: This is a prospective cohort study conducted in southern Brazil. Newborns who were born below 37 weeks of gestational age were selected at tertiary care hospital during the first 3 days of life were selected over a one-year period. SPL was measured weekly until the participants reached 37 weeks of cGA or were discharged from the hospital. Statistical analysis included the Lambda Mu Sigma (LMS) method for growth curve construction and the Bland-Altman test to assess measurement agreement.
Results: A total of 290 SPL measurements were collected from 140 participants. Reference curves were developed for cGA between 26 and 37 weeks. Bland-Altman analysis suggested agreement between measurements taken immediately after birth and those taken during follow-up, inferring that preterm newborns may exhibit penile growth patterns similar to those exhibited during the intrauterine period.
Conclusion: hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis integrity appears to be the primary determinant of post-natal penile growth. The proposed reference curves aid in the early diagnosis of hormonal and genetic alterations, allowing for timely medical interventions.
Keywords: Anthropometry; Male genital disease; Premature infant.
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