[Changes of concentrations of umbilical blood monoamines in low birth weight infant and their clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes of concentrations of umbilical blood monoamines in low birth weight (LBW) infants and their clinical significance.


METHODS
By fluorescence spectrophotometry, the concentrations of umbilical plasma norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in 18 LBW before and after delivery were measured and compared with 20 normal birth weight (NBW) infants.


RESULTS
The concentration of all monoamines, especially of the 2 catecholamines, i.e. NE and DA, were markedly lower in LBW than that in NBW (P < 0.05-0.01), regardless of prepartus or postpartus; the concentrations of all monoamines in postpartal umbilical plasma in both of LBW and NBW were higher than those in prepartal, and the increase of NE in NBW showed significant difference (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease of all monoamines, especially of catecholamines in LBW could be one of the reasons causing the increase of mortality and the decrease of mental and physical development in LBW.
Lin
B
B
Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei.
Li
L
L
Zhu
S
S
D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000378:metabolism*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine