title: Early identification of the risk for free radical-related diseases in preterm newborns.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Serafina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tataranno
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longini
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marzocchi
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iacoponi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buonocore
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals