title: Total oxidant status and oxidative stress are increased in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In this study, we compared the global oxidant/antioxidant status by measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) in preterm infants with NEC and with control preterms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one preterm neonates with NEC (stage 1 [group 1; n = 23] and stages 2 and 3 [group 2; n = 18]) and age-matched 36 healthy preterm controls (group 3) were included in this study. Blood samples were obtained both at the time of NEC diagnosis and 72 hours after for the evaluation of TAC and TOS. Serum levels of TAC, TOS, and OSI in patients with NEC were compared with controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic characteristics were comparable in all 3 groups. Preterm neonates in group 2 (with stages 2 and 3 NEC) had the highest TOS levels and OSI (P < .001 vs both groups 1 and 3). There was no difference in TAC levels among the groups (P = .26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrated that although TAC levels were similar in all 3 groups, oxidant stress mechanisms were activated in preterm neonates with definite NEC (stages 2 and 3 NEC). Premature neonates with increased levels of TOS and OSI were associated with severity of NEC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Hospital, 06100 Ankara, Turkey. chaydemir@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cumhur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dilli
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uras
authors.forename: Hulya Ozkan
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Ulu
authors.forename: Serife Suna
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdeve
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dilmen
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants