Göran Wennergren | University of Gothenburg (original) (raw)

Papers by Göran Wennergren

Acta Paediatrica, 1993

In order to link the reported increasing incidence of SIDS in Sweden to environmental or other ri... more In order to link the reported increasing incidence of SIDS in Sweden to environmental or other risk factors, we compared birth records and circumstances of deaths in infants who died in 1975-1977 with those who died a decade later, 1985-1987. The number of liver births differed by only 6850 in these two periods. Data were acquired from autopsy records of the decreased infants and matched with their respective birth certificates which were obtained from the National Board of Health and Welfare. The reported postperinatal incidence of SIDS increased from 0.51 per 1000 in 1975-1977 to 0.93 per 1000 in 1985-1987. No significant differences in boy/girl ratio, birth weight, gestational age or age at death were found in the two periods. While the number of infants who died at night indoors in their own bed remained almost unchanged, the number of infants who died outdoors in baby carriages during the cold season increased almost four-fold. The observed increase in incidence could, to a large extent, be related to the increase in outdoor deaths. We speculate that increased incidence of smoking among young women as well as other changes in lifestyle may have been contributing factors.

Acta Paediatrica, Apr 19, 2018

Acta Paediatrica, Jul 1, 2021

During the 1980s, the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) doubled in Sweden. A simil... more During the 1980s, the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) doubled in Sweden. A similar development was observed in other western countries. The increase— which had begun during the 1970s— raised concerns among parents of infants and paediatricians, and intensive research on SIDS was initiated. Towards the end of the 1980s, casecontrol studies in New Zealand and England led to a breakthrough. The biggest risk factor proved to be infants’ sleeping on their stomachs, which had been introduced during the first half of the 1970s. The thought behind the stomach position was that infants would not aspirate potential vomit. Presumably, the reasoning was based on experiences with injured soldiers in the Korean war, but for the infants the analogical reasoning proved to be fateful.

PubMed, Oct 1, 1988

Obstetric and neonatal performance were analyzed in an ultrasound-dated small for gestational age... more Obstetric and neonatal performance were analyzed in an ultrasound-dated small for gestational age (SGA) population from 1982-1985. Eighty-three percent of 160 SGA infants were identified antenatally by means of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) risk scoring, and the pregnancies were supervised at a high-risk clinic. Fifty percent were delivered electively, predominantly in gestational weeks 38-39. Thirty percent were born preterm. The cesarean section rate was 40%. Perinatal mortality was 6%, or 4% when lethal malformations were excluded, ten times higher than the corresponding total population figures. Eleven percent of the fetuses had severe malformations. In the remaining SGA population, one infant died after experiencing severe perinatal asphyxia and another developed cerebral palsy; no other major sequelae were found before the age of 18 months. Hypoglycemia and hypothermia occurred frequently, but these problems were managed satisfactorily. The mean hospital stay for term infants was twice that of appropriate for gestational age infants. We conclude that the extra attention paid to the SGA population is well motivated. Future efforts should be directed toward improving the diagnostic techniques for IUGR, as most of the perinatal mortality occurred among SGA infants not identified before birth.

Acta Paediatrica, May 1, 1986

ABSTRACT. Measurement of transcutaneous PO2 and PCO2 in addition to a clinical symptom grading sy... more ABSTRACT. Measurement of transcutaneous PO2 and PCO2 in addition to a clinical symptom grading system wds used to monitor the acute asthmatic attack in children under two years of age. tcPO2 was lowered already at signs of mild obstruction and decreased in parallel with clinical deterioration. tcPCOl was almost unchanged at mild to moderate obstructive symptoms. With clinical deterioration lcPco2, rised steadily. An increase of the oxygen concentration to 30‐40% in the inspired air increased tcP02, on the average by 70%, but did not change the tcPCO2: level. Continuous recording of tcPo2 and tcPCo2 as well as the clinical grading system are valuable tools when monitoring severely obstructive infants and young children.

The European respiratory journal, Feb 27, 2009

Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, Apr 1, 2020

Acta Paediatrica, Nov 10, 2016

Acta Paediatrica, Sep 1, 1983

A SIDS sibling is described who showed a normal respiratory regulation at 1.5 months but who was ... more A SIDS sibling is described who showed a normal respiratory regulation at 1.5 months but who was equipped with an apnea monitor at home on psychological indications. At 3 months he had a near-miss SIDS episode. He was then found to have developed a reaction to hypoxia with appearance of periodic breathing. With theophylline this response pattern was normalized but despite theophylline medication episodes of prolonged apnea occurred.

The European respiratory journal, Jun 30, 2010

Authorea (Authorea), Nov 26, 2022

Following the “hygiene hypothesis”, a plethora of studies have investigated the role of sibship c... more Following the “hygiene hypothesis”, a plethora of studies have investigated the role of sibship composition in atopic diseases, but findings are largely conflicting. We undertook the first systematic review to synthesize the global literature linking birth order and sibship size to the risk of allergic rhinitis. Fifteen databases were searched from inception until 20 October 2021. Screening and data extraction were performed in pairs. Comparable numerical data were analyzed using meta-analysis with robust variance estimation (RVE). We included 76 reports based on 66 studies that met our inclusion criteria, encompassing >2 million subjects. Being second- or later-born child was associated with protection against both current (pooled risk ratio [RR] 0.79, 95%CI 0.73-0.86) and ever (RR 0.77, 95%CI 0.68-0.88) allergic rhinitis. Having siblings, regardless of birth order, was associated with a decreased risk of current allergic rhinitis (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83-0.95) and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (RR 0.92, 95%CI 0.86-0.98). These effects were unchanged across age, time period, and geographical regions. Our findings indicate that primarily, a higher birth order, and to a lesser extent the number of siblings, is associated with a lower risk of developing allergic rhinitis.

Acta Paediatrica, Jul 1, 2021

Arvid Wallgren studied medicine at Uppsala and defended his thesis on tuberculosis there. At the ... more Arvid Wallgren studied medicine at Uppsala and defended his thesis on tuberculosis there. At the age of 32, he was appointed consultant physician at Gothenburg Children's Hospital. The recruitment of Wallgren proved to be quite fortunate. Wallgren developed and introduced the BCG vaccination, and he established a timetable for tuberculosis’ various manifestations. After Adolf Lichtenstein's passing, Arvid Wallgren was Acta Paediatrica's editorinchief for 15 years (Figure 1). Arvid Wallgren (1889– 1973) was born in Norra Råda municipality in Värmland. After schooling in Arvika, he studied at Uppsala and in 1918 he defended his thesis on tuberculosis there.1 At the age of 32, he was appointed consultant physician at Gothenburg Children's Hospital. The appointment awoke debate because Wallgren had scant paediatric experience. His paediatric training was restricted to 11 months of service at the children's clinic in Uppsala. Behind the recruitment stood Sven Johansson who was then a consultant physician for the department of paediatric surgery at the Children's Hospital. A large portion of Johansson's practice was tuberculosisrelated surgery, and he wished to have a colleague who was knowledgeable in tuberculosis as head of the paediatric department. Sven Johansson is known for his nail to mend hip fractures, which is named after him.

Acta Paediatrica, Jul 1, 2021

Isak Jundell’s successor as editorinchief for Acta Paediatrica was Adolf Lichtenstein (Figure 1).... more Isak Jundell’s successor as editorinchief for Acta Paediatrica was Adolf Lichtenstein (Figure 1). Like Jundell, Lichtenstein came from a Jewish family, but unlike Jundell, Lichtenstein grew up in an affluent environment. Lichtenstein was a powerful person who strengthened Acta Paediatrica’s position as a scientific journal. Because of his sudden passing after just a few years, his time as editorinchief was sadly short. Adolf Lichtenstein (18841950) grew up in an affluent Jewish family in Stockholm. His father was a wholesale merchant. Following medical studies at Uppsala and graduating as a doctor of medicine at the Karolinska Institute, he served in Stockholm at the children’s hospital The Samaritan, Sachsska Children’s Hospital and Crown Princess Lovisa’s Hospital for Sick Children.1 Lichtenstein wrote his thesis on anaemia in preterm infants and demonstrated their need for iron supplements. His doctoral defence was at Karolinska Institute year 1917, and he became Associate Professor of paediatrics the same year. After his dissertation, he served as a physician at the infant ward of the Public Maternity Hospital between 1917 and 1924 and consultant physician at the Stockholm Epidemic Hospital between 1924 and 1932. From 1932 to his retirement at the end of 1949, he was a professor of paediatrics at Karolinska Institute and consultant physician and head of the clinical department of Crown Princess Lovisa’s Children’s Hospital.