title: Increased inflammatory markers are associated with early periventricular leukomalacia.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether inflammatory markers are associated with the occurrence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Superoxide (O(2) (-)) production of neutrophils and plasma antioxidative superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in umbilical cord blood were studied. Participants were preterm infants with early PVL (n=6; three males, three females; mean birthweight 1458g [SD 517], range 620-2040g; mean gestational age 29.8wks [SD 2.9], range 27-34wks); and preterm control infants without PVL (n=10; five males, five females; mean birthweight 1838g [SD 664], range 925-2748g; mean gestational age 30.6wks [SD 3.1], range 26-34wks). In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured in the umbilical cord blood. N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced O(2) (-) production by neutrophils in infants with early PVL was significantly higher than that in the control group. In contrast, there was no significant difference in concentrations of copper/zinc-SOD and SOD activity between groups. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (but not IL-6, IL-8, or granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) were significantly higher in infants with early PVL than in control infants. The excess O(2) (-) produced by activated neutrophils with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production could play a role in the molecular cascade leading to white matter damage in PVL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. tsuki@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukimori
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Takazumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hikino
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wake
authors.forename: Hitoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase