title: Analysis and interpretation of acylcarnitine profiles in dried blood spot and plasma of preterm and full-term newborns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acylcarnitines are biomarkers of fatty acid metabolism, and examining their patterns in preterm newborn may reveal metabolic changes associated with particular conditions related to prematurity. Isomeric acylcarnitines in dried blood spots (DBS) and plasma have never been assessed in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 157 newborn divided into four groups by weeks of gestational age (GA), as follows: 22-27 wk in group 1; 28-31 wk in group 2; 32-36 wk in group 3; and 37-42 wk in group 4. Samples were collected on the third day of life. Acylcarnitines were separated and quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acylcarnitine concentrations correlated significantly with GA and birth weight in both DBS and plasma samples. Concentrations were lower in preterm newborn, except for acylcarnitines derived from branched-chain amino acids, which were higher and correlated with enteral feeding. On day 3 of life, no correlations emerged with gender, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, surfactant administration, or mechanical ventilation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We established GA-based reference ranges for isomeric acylcarnitine concentrations in preterm newborn, which could be used to assess nutritional status and the putative neuroprotective role of acylcarnitines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gucciardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zaramella
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pirillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naturale
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiandetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000737:chemistry; D001724:Birth Weight; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000097:blood; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing / Q000379:methods*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012016:Reference Values; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C116917:acylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine