Early identification of the risk for free radical-related diseases in preterm newborns.
BACKGROUND
Despite recent advances in preterm newborns healthcare, perinatal pathologies and disabilities are increasing. Oxidative stress (OS) is determinant for the onset of an unbalance between free radicals (FRs) production and antioxidant systems which plays a key role in pathogenesis of pathologies such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), grouped as 'free radical-related diseases' (FRD).


OBJECTIVE
This study tests the hypothesis that OS markers levels in cord blood may predict the onset of FRD pathologies.


METHODS
168 preterm newborns of GA: 24-32weeks (28.09+/-1.99); and BW: 470-2480 gr (1358.11+/-454.09) were consecutively recruited. Markers of potential OS risk (non-protein bound iron, NPBI; basal superoxide anion, BSA; under stimulation superoxide anion, USSA) and markers of OS-related damage (total hydroperoxides, TH; advanced oxidation protein products, AOPP) were assessed in cord blood. Associations between FRD onset and OS markers were checked through inferential analysis (univariate logistic regression).


RESULTS
The development of FRD was significantly associated to high cord blood levels of TH, AOPP and NPBI (respectively p=0.000, OR=1.025, 95%CI=1.013-1.038; p=0.014, OR=1.092, 95%CI=1.018-1.172; p=0.007, OR=1.26995%CI=1.066-1.511).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated levels of TH, AOPP and, above all, NPBI, in cord blood are associated with increased risk for FRD. OS markers allow the early identification of infants at risk for FRD because of perinatal oxidant exposure. This can be useful in devising strategies to prevent or ameliorate perinatal outcome.
Perrone
Serafina
S
Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Italy.
Tataranno
Maria Luisa
ML
Negro
Simona
S
Longini
Mariangela
M
Marzocchi
Barbara
B
Proietti
Fabrizio
F
Iacoponi
Francesca
F
Capitani
Serena
S
Buonocore
Giuseppe
G
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018570:Risk Assessment
D005609:Free Radicals