[Osteopenia of prematurity].

The survival rate of premature infants has been significantly increased during the last decades. As a consequence, the problem of less imminent, slowly progressing, but also important disorders such as osteopenia of prematurity has been emerging. The diagnosis of osteopenia of prematurity is based evidence for less bone mineral density compared to fetuses or infants at the same gestational age in the absence of laboratory parameters and/or clinical signs for rachitis or other metabolic bone disease. The incidence of osteopenia among infants born before 28 weeks of gestational age are as high as 30%. The aim of this paper is to review the information regarding the prevention and treatment of osteopenia of prematurity and to summarize the preventive measures to avoid fractures or bone deformations and to achieve the genetically determined peak bone mass. The latter is essential for the prevention of osteoporosis in adulthood, a significant problem of public health.