Relationship between oxidative stress in cord blood and route of delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of route of delivery on the antioxidant system of newborns.


METHODS
We used the cord blood taken during labor of 56 vaginal deliveries and 50 elective cesarean sections. The specimens were analyzed for the plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity and leukocyte count.


RESULTS
SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in the elective cesarean group than the vaginal delivery group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005, respectively), but G6PD activity was similar between the groups. Plasma MDA level was lower in the cesarean group compared to the vaginal delivery group (p < 0.001). Leukocyte count was higher in the vaginal delivery group (p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the route of delivery has an effect on oxidative stress in newborns exposed to oxidative stress during delivery. It can be suggested that the antioxidant system works more efficiently to overcome oxidative stress in newborns delivered via cesarean section.
Inanc
Fatma
F
Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. fatmainanc@yahoo.com
Kilinc
Metin
M
Kiran
Gurkan
G
Guven
Alanur
A
Kurutas
Ergul Belge
EB
Cikim
I Gurkan
IG
Akyol
Omer
O
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase