Hormone profiles in extremely preterm infants

Preterm birth, as defined by a gestational age of < 37 weeks at delivery, currently accounts for 5 to 18% of all births worldwide [1] and [2]. In recent decades neonatologists have invested significant effort to improve outcomes for preterm infants. Now neonatologists are good at keeping these young babies alive, with survival rates associated with preterm deliveries increasing from 85% in the mid-1990s to 93% reported in 2010; with a decrease in foetal deaths with increasing gestational age at birth [2] and [3]. Consequently, pathologies previously only considered for full term neonates are now being investigated in preterm infants.