title: Plasma bilirubin level and oxidative stress in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the hypothesis that changes in plasma total bilirubin levels (Btot) can influence the antioxidant system and oxidative stress in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty two healthy preterm infants who presented with visible non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia were studied at the mean (SD) age of 3.7 (1.5) days. Btot, plasma total hydroperoxide concentration (TH), plasma protein SH group concentration, and total antioxidant capacity of the plasma (TAC) were measured at study entry and after 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Btot did not correlate with TH, TAC, or protein SH group concentration, but a significant correlation was found between TH and TAC, TH and protein SH groups, and TAC and protein SH groups, both at study entry and after 24 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in plasma bilirubin was contemporary with an increase in plasma antioxidant capacity and decrease in oxidative stress in preterm infants. This may be the result of the pro-oxidant effect of haem oxygenase, mediated by iron release, which may outcompete the antioxidant properties of bilirubin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy. dani@cesit1.unifi.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzati
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzuti
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rubaltelli
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000097:blood; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D001663:Bilirubin