PEDIATRICS Vol. 42 No. 3 September 1968, pp. 429-436
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Poblete, E.
Right arrow Articles by Auld, P. A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Poblete, E.
Right arrow Articles by Auld, P. A. M.

CARBONIC ANHYDRASE IN THE PREMATURE

E. Poblete M.D.1, D. W. Thibeault M.D.1, and P. A. M. Auld M.D.1

1 Department of Pediatrics, Cornell University Medical College, New York City

Carbonic anhydrase activity was measured in the blood of premature and full-term infants to determine if the arterial-alveolar carbon dioxide gradient was related to low levels of carbonic anhydrase. The time at which levels in these infants approached the adult was studied as well. The study demonstrates that CO2 gradients do not correlate with blood carbonic anhydrase activity, and minimal or no activity can be associated with a small gradient. An increase in the carbonic anhydrase activity-produced by transfusion did not significantly change the CO2 gradient. Premature infants approach adult levels of activity in 6 to 7 months.

Submitted on November 2, 1967
Accepted on March 16, 1968