NEWBORN SUBCUTANEOUS FAT NECROSIS

Course overview

SUBCUTANEOUS FAT NECROSIS OF THE NEWBORN IS A RARE, SELF-LIMITED PANNICULITIS THAT TYPICALLY OCCURS IN FULL-TERM OR POST-TERM NEWBORN INFANTS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF LIFE. THIS CONDITION MAY BE COMPLICATED BY SEVERAL SEVERE HEMATOLOGIC AND METABOLIC ALTERATIONS, WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO MONITOR. SOME OF THE COMPLICATIONS INCLUDE THROMBOCYTOPENIA, HYPOGLYCEMIA, HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HYPERCALCEMIA. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUBCUTANEOUS FAT NECROSIS OF THE NEWBORN BY AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GENERAL PEDIATRICIAN IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION BY PERFORMING DETAILED SKIN EXAMINATIONS AND REGULAR LABORATORY SURVEILLANCE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER DIAGNOSIS.