Study on serum Tau protein level and neurodevelopmental outcome of placental abruption with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore differences in serum Tau protein levels and neurodevelopmental prognoses of placental abruption or umbilical cord around neck with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).Methods: Forty neonates with moderate/severe HIE divided into placental abruption with HIE group (placental abruption with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (PA-HIE) group) (n = 18) and umbilical cord around the neck with HIE group (umbilical cord around the neck with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (UCAN-HIE) group) (n = 22). Healthy term newborns comprised the control group (n = 35). Serum Tau protein levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 24 hours (3.50 hours [1.00–24.00]) after birth. Neurodevelopment outcomes were assessed based on the Gesell Developmental Scale at 9 months of age.Results: Serum Tau protein levels were significantly higher in 40 cases (1013 pg/ml [538.04–1190.42]) than in the control group (106.41 pg/ml [64.55–154.71], p = .0001). Serum Tau protein levels in the PA-HIE group (1024.46 pg/ml [657.88–1190.42]) were significantly higher than those in the UCAN-HIE group (892.78 pg/ml [538.04–1179.50], p = .0149). The development quotient score in the PA-HIE group (67.0 [47.0–90.0]) was significantly lower than that in the UCAN-HIE group (81.5 [52.6–100.0]) (p = .0028). The component ratio of neurodevelopmental retardation in the PA-HIE group (44.45%) was significantly higher than that in the UCAN-HIE group (22.73%) (X2 = 13.3138, p = .0013).Conclusions: Compared with the UCAN-HIE group, the serum Tau protein level and the component ratio of neurodevelopmental retardation were significantly higher in the PA-HIE group.