title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in infants <32 weeks gestational age: correlation with antenatal factors and postnatal outcomes.
abstract: Neurotrophins (NTs) play important roles in brain growth and development. Cord blood (CB) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations increase with gestational age but data regarding postnatal changes are limited. We measured BDNF concentrations after birth in 33 preterm infants <32-wk gestation. Serum was collected at birth (CB), at day 2, between day 6 and 10 (D6), at day 30 (D30), and at day 60 (D60). BDNF concentrations fell on D2 (p = 0.03), recovered by D6 (p = 0.10), and continued to rise thereafter at D30 (p = 0.06) and D60 (p = 0.01) compared with CB. CB BDNF concentrations positively correlated with duration of rupture of membranes (r = 0.43, p = 0.04). Antenatal steroids (ANS, p = 0.02), postnatal steroids (PNS, p = 0.04), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP, p = 0.02) were identified as significant factors in multivariate analyses. The median (25-75th interquartile range) CB BDNF concentrations were higher in infants who received a complete course ANS compared with those who received a partial course [1461 (553-2064) versus 281 (171-536) pg/mL, p = 0.04]. BDNF concentrations negatively correlated with the use of PNS at D30 (r = -0.53, p = 0.002) and at D60 (r = -0.55, p = 0.009). PNS use was associated with reduced concentrations of BDNF at D30 [733 (101-1983) versus 2224 (1677- 4400) pg/mL, p = 0.004] and at D60 [1149 (288-2270) versus 2560 (1337-5166) pg/mL, p = 0.01]. BDNF concentrations on D60 in infants who developed ROP (n = 16) were lower than those who did not develop ROP (n = 7) [1417 (553-2540) versus 3593 (2620-7433) pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.005]. Our data suggests that BDNF concentrations rise beyond the first week of age. BDNF concentrations correlate with factors that influence neurodevelopment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. Rao_R@kids.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mashburn
authors.forename: Jingnan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Nirmala S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000097:blood; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood; D002657:Child Development; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000097:blood; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D013256:Steroids