title: Umbilical activin A concentration as an early marker of perinatal hypoxia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate activin A as a potential, early marker of perinatal hypoxia and to analyze factors, other than hypoxia, which influence on activin A concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from 86 newborns with gestational age 30-41. Of the 86 newborns, 26 were regarded as hypoxic. Activin A concentrations were measured by means of specific two-site enzyme immunoassays. Activin A concentrations were correlated with newborns' gender, week gestation, mode of delivery and blood gas measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activin A levels were significantly higher in hypoxic than nonhypoxic newborns (medians, minimum and maximum values: 1.516; 0.149 -1.974 versus 0.368; 0.054 - 1.041 ng/mL, p = 0.0452). Activin A concentration was significantly higher in male newborns (p = 0.0074). Activin A levels were lower in term than preterm babies but the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.2368 in hypoxic, p = 0.2487 nonhypoxic). Mode of delivery did not influence on activin A concentration (p = 0.8293 hypoxic, p = 0.9458 nonhypoxic). The differences of occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in both group was not statistically significant (p = 0.61).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Umbilical artery activin A combined with other markers of hypoxia could be a useful marker of perinatal hypoxia. Concentration of activin A is significantly higher in male newborns. The mode and time of delivery have no influence on activin A concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. mfiala@wp.pl
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Walencka
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paprotny
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins