Predictors of adverse outcomes in preterm infants in the early neonatal period

Abstract

Introduction. Extremely and very preterm infants are a special cohort of newborns with inherent functional immaturity and specific pathological conditions which are accompanied by hypoxia, reoxygenation, tissue hypoperfusion, increased risk of oxidative stress. Premature infants are prone to oxidative deterioration which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of severe diseases such as respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, periventricular leukomalacia, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity.Objective. The aim of the research was to estimate the predictors of adverse outcomes in preterm infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks in the early neonatal period by assessment of oxidative stress markers.Material and methods. A total amount of 46 preterm infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks in the early neonatal period were included in the research. According to the results of early outcomes newborns were divided into two groups: I group – 12 infants with adverse outcomes and II group - 34 preterm infants with favorable outcomes. Twenty healthy newborns were included in the control group (III group). Clinical examination of infants and laboratory determination of oxidative stress markers were done for all participants.Results. Asphyxia, early onset sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants less than 32 weeks of gestation had increased the risk of mortality in the early neonatal period. The level of 8-isoprostane, ROS, TBP, LHP was significantly higher in neonates with adverse outcomes (group I). It was found that the level of 8-isoprostane more than 595.4 mg/ml, ROS level above 0.483 IU, TBP higher than 5.14 μmol/l and LHP levels above 5.91 U/m were associated with unfavorable outcomes in the early neonatal period. Decreased activity of the antioxidant system (catalase, SOD) increases the risk of early neonatal mortality.Conclusions. The activation of oxidative stress in preterm infants may be a predictor of adverse outcomes in the early neonatal period.