Effect of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) in very low birth weight infants

The aim of this retrospective, case–control study was to determine the effect of the amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) on serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Medical records of all VLBW infants who were admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between May 1998 and May 2006 and had received ABLC for at least 2 weeks were reviewed for patient demographics, use of medications (ABLC, diuretics, xanthines, indomethacin, vancomycin, gentamicin, pressors, and inotropes), fluid intake, urinary output, and serum electrolytes. Thirty-five patients who received ABLC were identified and matched by gestational age (GA) to 35 patients who served as controls. Infants who received ABLC had an average GA of 25.7 ± 2.1 weeks and a birth weight of 764 ± 196 g. Between day 1 and 14 of ABLC treatment, the BUN decreased from 17.5 ± 11.5 to 10.5 ± 6.8 mg/dl (p = 0.01), the SCr varied between 0.78 ± 0.32 and 0.69 ± 0.32 mg/dl, Na varied between 136.6 ± 5.8 and 137.8 ± 3.6 mEq/l, and K varied between 4.8 ± 0.9 and 4.9 ± 0.6 mEq/l, respectively. Based on these results, we conclude that treatment with ABLC for 2 weeks did not increase BUN or SCr, nor decrease Na or K in VLBW infants.