[Serum growth hormone and prolactin levels in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the levels and roles of serum growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).


METHODS
Serum GH and PRL levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 54 neonates with HIE (20 mild, 19 moderate and 15 severe HIE) at the acute and convalescence stages. Twenty normal neonates were used as controls.


RESULTS
Serum GH levels were significantly lower, but PRL levels were significantly higher in moderate and severe HIE neonates at the acute stage compared with those of controls and mild HIE neonates (P < 0.01). There were noticeable differences in serum levels of GH and PRL between the moderate and severe HIE cases (P < 0.01). During the convalescence stage, serum GH levels increased and PRL levels decreased in moderate and severe HIE neonates compared with those at the acute stage (P < 0.01); serum GH and PRL levels in each sub-group of HIE restored to the levels of controls. There was a closely negative correlation between GH and PRL levels at the acute stage of HIE (r = -0.8759, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
GH and PRL might be involved in the pathophysiological process of HIE. The levels of GH and PRL closely relate to the severity of HIE at the acute stage.
Zhang
Guang-You
GY
Department of Pediatrics, Central Hospital of Tai'an, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China. guangyouzh@163.com
Lu
Xian-Mei
XM
Sun
Ruo-Peng
RP
Wang
Shu-Zhen
SZ
D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D011388:Prolactin