title: Sympathoadrenal activity in preterm infants during the first five days of life.
abstract: We measured plasma concentrations of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) as well as urinary concentrations of metanephrine (M), normetanephrine (NM) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (MOMA) on day 2 and day 5 in preterm infants; gestational age less than 30 weeks (G less than 30; n = 16) and gestational age 30-34 weeks (G 30-34; n = 19). Concentrations of E (0.00-2.28 nmol/l) and NE (0.6-9.1 nmol/l) in plasma were much lower than those previously reported during preterm and term delivery. The E:NE ratio decreased from 1:10 on day 2 to 1:30 on day 5, and the M:NM ratio decreased from 1:4 on day 2 to 1:8 on day 5, indicating relatively higher catecholamine secretion from the adrenals than from the sympathetic nerve terminals in preterm infants during postnatal adaptation. Plasma concentrations of DOPAC and DHPG were significantly higher in G less than 30 than in G 30-34 (DOPAC, p = 0.0494; DHPG, p = 0.0092), probably relating to a low urinary excretion rate of catecholamine metabolites in infants in G less than 30. Plasma and urinary concentrations of catecholamines and their metabolites varied considerably, and no significant correlations to postnatal events could be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ekblad
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kero
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korvenranta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheinin
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000652:urine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000652:urine; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002395:Catecholamines; D009647:Normetanephrine; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D008676:Metanephrine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid; C010117:3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol; D004837:Epinephrine