title: Early transient hypoglycemia is associated with increased albumin nitration in the preterm infant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical significance of early transient hypoglycemia (ETH), a frequent event in preterm newborns, is a highly controversial issue. In experimental models, hypoglycemia has been reported to cause oxidative stress. Among the reactive species, early generated peroxynitrite is responsible for protein nitration and lipid peroxidation, a process referred to as nitrative stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to investigate whether ETH is associated with protein nitration in the preterm newborn.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a novel highly sensitive ELISA, we quantified plasma nitroalbumin (PNA) as a marker of peroxynitrite generation in 72 preterm newborns (28-36 weeks), among which 25 had a glycemia level of <2.5 mmol/l during the first hour of life (H1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PNA was significantly higher in ETH than in normoglycemic infants at H1 [median = 6.3 (3.8-8.8) vs. 3.4 ng/ml (2.1-5.1), p = 0.027] and at day 1 [median = 6.6 (5.6-15.3) vs. 3.9 ng/ml (2.3-4.6), p = 0.014]. PNA was inversely correlated with glycemia at H1 (r = -0.30, p = 0.01) and at day 1 (r = -0.63, p = 0.001). In ETH infants, lactatemia was inversely correlated with PNA. At day 1, PNA was higher in ETH infants treated by gavage than in those treated with intravenous dextrose [median = 8.9 ng/ml (7.1-10.4) vs. 4.4 ng/ml (2.6-5.7), p = 0.008].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that ETH is associated with increased peroxynitrite generation resulting in systemic protein nitration in premature newborns. Treatment of ETH with intravenous dextrose is associated with lower PNA levels than gavage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wayenberg
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavedon
authors.forename: Chiraz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghaddhab
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.forename: Serge P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Bottari
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D005947:Glucose