title: Arginine-guanidinoacetate-creatine pathway in preterm newborns: creatine biosynthesis in newborns.
abstract: The phosphocreatine/creatine system is fundamental for the proper development of the embryonic brain. Being born prematurely might alter the creatine biosynthesis pathway, in turn affecting creatine supply to the developing brain. We enrolled 53 preterm and very preterm infants and 55 full-term newborns. The levels of urinary guanidinoacetate, creatine, creatinine and amino acids were measured in the preterm and very preterm groups, 48 h and 9 days after birth and at discharge, and 48 h after birth in the full-term group. Guanidinoacetate concentrations of both preterm and very preterm newborns were significantly higher at discharge than the values for the full-term group at 48 h, while very preterm infants showed urinary creatine values significantly lower than those measured in the full-term group. Our results suggest an impairment of the creatine biosynthesis pathway in preterm and very preterm newborns, which could lead to creatine depletion affecting the neurological outcome in prematurely born infants.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, University of Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Lage
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Andrade
authors: José Angel
authors: JA
authors: Prieto
authors: Izaskun
authors: I
authors: Asla
authors: Amaya
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Nerea
authors: N
authors: Ruiz
authors: Juncal
authors: J
authors: Echeverría
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Luz Couce
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Sanjurjo
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Aldámiz-Echevarría
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003401:Creatine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine; C004946:glycocyamine; D003401:Creatine; D005998:Glycine