Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity (TAFIa) levels in neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
OBJECTIVE
Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is thought to be a sign of fetal hypoxia, which causes activation of coagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Inflammation is also seen in MSAF. On the other hand, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is an inhibitor of fibrinolysis and a regulator of vascular inflammation. For this reason, in this study we aimed to evaluate the relation between hypoxia, fibrinolysis, and inflammation by determining the levels of TAFI activity (TAFIa) in MSAF where inflammation was also thought to have a role in the pathogenesis.


METHODS
The MSAF group consisted of 22 neonates; 20 neonates served as the control group. Plasma TAFIa levels were evaluated in all neonates in the first six hours of life.


RESULTS
TAFIa levels were significantly higher in the MSAF group when compared with the control group and the levels correlated negatively with cord blood pH levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased TAFIa levels in neonates with MSAF might be due to hypoxia. Inflammation observed in MSAF may also play an additional role in increased TAFIa expression. Although no clinical complication that can be attributed to this increase was seen, one should be alert to the complications of depressed fibrinolysis that might be observed in these neonates.
Gursoy
Tugba
T
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. tugbagursoy@gmail.com
Tekinalp
Gulsevin
G
Yigit
Sule
S
Kirazli
Serafettin
S
Korkmaz
Ayse
A
Gurgey
Aytemiz
A
D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium
D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2