title: Oxidative stress in twin neonates is influenced by birth weight and weight discordance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the extent of oxidative stress in neonates born from multiple gestation pregnancies who are at high risk of prematurity and growth abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from umbilical cord of 72 twins, born at gestational age of 28-38 weeks, and 20 consecutive control singletons. Oxidative stress parameters (15-F(2t)-isoprostane, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and total antioxidant capacity, tAOC), were measured in cord plasma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of 15-F(2t)-isoprostane showed a moderate negative correlation with birth weight and were higher in small co-twins of discordant pairs; tAOC was positively correlated with birth weight but no significant difference was found between co-twins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxidative stress levels in twins are mainly influenced by birth weight and weight discordance. We suggest that evaluation of cord blood 15-F(2t)-isoprostane might be of clinical value as maker of pre- and perinatal distress in twinning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. luisa.minghetti@iss.it
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minghetti
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suppiej
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Malida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franzoi
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pascoli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zanardo
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014427:Twins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D028441:F2-Isoprostanes