title: Does Whole-Body Hypothermia in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Affect Surfactant Disaturated-Phosphatidylcholine Kinetics?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unknown whether Whole-Body Hypothermia (WBH) affects pulmonary function. In vitro studies, at relatively low temperatures, suggest that hypothermia may induce significant changes to the surfactant composition. The effect of WBH on surfactant kinetics in newborn infants is unknown. We studied in vivo kinetics of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) in asphyxiated newborns during WBH and in normothermic controls (NTC) with no or mild asphyxia. Both groups presented no clinically apparent lung disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven term or near term newborns requiring mechanical ventilation were studied (GA 38.6±2.2 wks). Fifteen during WBH and twelve NTC. All infants received an intra-tracheal dose of 13C labelled DSPC and tracheal aspirate were performed. DSPC amount, DSPC half-life (HL) and pool size (PS) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DSPC amount in tracheal aspirates was 0.42 [0.22-0.54] and 0.36 [0.10-0.58] mg/ml in WBH and NTC respectively (p = 0.578). DSPC HL was 24.9 [15.7-52.5] and 25.3 [15.8-59.3] h (p = 0.733) and DSPC PS was 53.2 [29.4-91.6] and 40.2 [29.8-64.6] mg/kg (p = 0.598) in WBH and NTC respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBH does not alter DSPC HL and PS in newborn infants with no clinical apparent lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nespeca
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Research Institute "Città della speranza", Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonato
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verlato
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Virgilio Paolo
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Carnielli
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C017463:lecithins, disaturated