title: Effect of asphyxia on non-protein-bound iron and lipid peroxidation in newborn infants.
abstract: The effect of asphyxia on iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation in newborn infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) was investigated. Non-protein-bound iron (NPBI) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric-acid-reactive species; TBARS) in plasma and hematological iron indices were measured in 15 healthy newborn infants (mean gestational age 39 04 weeks, SD 1); 15 asphyxiated infants without neurological abnormalities (AS-HIE; mean gestational age 38.8 weeks, SD 0.9); and 15 asphyxiated infants with neurological abnormalities (AS+HIE; mean gestational age 39.75 weeks, SD 1.4). Follow-up was performed at the age of 5 months. It was found that the detectable rates of NPBI in 10 of 15 of the AS-HIE group and 13 of 15 of the AS+HIE group were significantly higher than that of the control group (5 of 15; both p < 0.01). Plasma levels of TBARS in the control (9.20 micromol/L, SD 1.9) and AS-HIE infants (10.13 micromol/L, SD 2.7) were significantly lower than those of the AS+HIE group (13.42 micromol/L, SD 2.8). Serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation in the AS+HIE group was higher than the corresponding values of the control and AS-HIE groups, although no statistical difference was found among them. At 5 months of age, all control and AS-HIE infants were neurologically normal, whether or not their NPBI was detectable. Of the 12 AS+HIE infants, four (all of whom had detectable NPBI) were neurologically impaired. The average Gross Development Quotient of AS+HIE infants was significantly lower than that of the control or AS-HIE groups (p < 0.01). Results showed that asphyxia could affect iron metabolism and lead to a significant increase in NPBI and lipid peroxidation in newborn infants with HIE, indicating that iron delocalization induced by asphyxia plays a role in the brain injury of asphyxiated infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Liao Qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Kui
authors.forename: Qian Zhong
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Ming
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D001663:Bilirubin