Abstract
Acute perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of death and neurological injury in newborn infants. Severe asphyxia can occur in infants around the time of birth for several reasons. The aim of our study was to find the most sensitive, easily obtainable and fast assessable parameter of the presence and quantification of asphyxia.In our study 39 term newborns (15 healthy term newborns and 24 asphyxial term newborns), from vaginal deliveries admitted within 24 hours of life were monitored and parameters of blood count from venous blood were assessed. Laboratory findings of blood count parameters revealed significant differences between term asphyxial and healthy newborns in erythrocyte count and hemoglobin and hematocrit values.Hematological changes observed early after delivery can determine the duration of hypoxemia (acute vs. chronic) and asphyxia of short duration may be accompanied without occurrence of polyglobulia.
Highlights
The fetal tissues, which are adapted to a low oxygenation during intrauterine development, are subjected to a rapid change in an oxygen concentration after delivery
In our study 39 term newborns (15 healthy term newborns and 24 asphyxial term newborns), from vaginal deliveries admitted within 24 hours of life were monitored and parameters of blood count from venous blood were assessed
Hematological changes observed early after delivery can determine the duration of hypoxemia and asphyxia of short duration may be accompanied without occurrence of polyglobulia
Summary
The fetal tissues, which are adapted to a low oxygenation during intrauterine development, are subjected to a rapid change in an oxygen concentration after delivery. Birth itself is a strong oxidative stress. Excess of free radicals and their reactive metabolites in the organism, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of so called free-radical diseases, in adults and in newborns (Brucknerová et al, 2007; Tsukahara, 2007). In the case of preterm newborns the consequences of asphyxia are even more threatening due to the immaturity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms. Postasphyxial complications have a broad spectrum (Brucknerová & Benedeková, 2000; Brucknerová et al.,2005). Changes in the hemopoietic system can be observed as complications of asphyxia.
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