Early identification of the risk for free radical-related diseases in preterm newborns

Perrone, Serafina; Tataranno, Maria Luisa; Negro, Simona; Longini, Mariangela; Marzocchi, Barbara; Proietti, Fabrizio; Iacoponi, Francesca; Capitani, Serena; Buonocore, Giuseppe

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.03.008

« Previous Next »Early Human Development
Volume 86, Issue 4 , Pages 241-244, April 2010

Early identification of the risk for free radical-related diseases in preterm newborns

Serafina Perrone
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
Maria Luisa Tataranno
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
Simona Negro
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
Mariangela Longini
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
Barbara Marzocchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
Fabrizio Proietti
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
Francesca Iacoponi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Biology Section Institute of General Biology, University of Siena, Italy
Serena Capitani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Biology Section Institute of General Biology, University of Siena, Italy
Giuseppe Buonocore
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena, Italy
- Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico “ Le Scotte”, V.le Bracci 36, 53100 Siena, Italy. Tel.: +39 0577 586542x523; fax: +39 0577 586182.

Received 11 January 2010; received in revised form 15 February 2010; accepted 16 March 2010.

Abstract

Background

Despite recent advances in preterm newborns healthcare, perinatal pathologies and disabilities are increasing. Oxidative stress (OS) is determinant for the onset of an unbalance between free radicals (FRs) production and antioxidant systems which plays a key role in pathogenesis of pathologies such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), grouped as ‘free radical-related diseases’ (FRD).

Aim

This study tests the hypothesis that OS markers levels in cord blood may predict the onset of FRD pathologies.

Patients and methods

168 preterm newborns of GA: 24–32weeks (28.09±1.99); and BW: 470–2480 gr (1358.11±454.09) were consecutively recruited. Markers of potential OS risk (non-protein bound iron, NPBI; basal superoxide anion, BSA; under stimulation superoxide anion, USSA) and markers of OS-related damage (total hydroperoxides, TH; advanced oxidation protein products, AOPP) were assessed in cord blood. Associations between FRD onset and OS markers were checked through inferential analysis (univariate logistic regression).

Results

The development of FRD was significantly associated to high cord blood levels of TH, AOPP and NPBI (respectively p=0.000, OR=1.025, 95%CI=1.013–1.038; p=0.014, OR=1.092, 95%CI=1.018–1.172; p=0.007, OR=1.26995%CI=1.066–1.511).

Conclusions

Elevated levels of TH, AOPP and, above all, NPBI, in cord blood are associated with increased risk for FRD. OS markers allow the early identification of infants at risk for FRD because of perinatal oxidant exposure. This can be useful in devising strategies to prevent or ameliorate perinatal outcome.

Abbreviations: FRD, Free Radicals Disease, FRs, free radicals, OS, oxidative stress, BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, RP, retinopathy of prematurity, NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis, PDA, patent ductus arteriosus, PVL, periventricular leukomalacia, IVH, intraventricular haemorrhage, PHH, post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus, TH, total hydroperoxides, AOPP, advanced oxidation protein products, NPBI, non-protein bound iron, BSA, basal superoxide anion, USSA, under stimulation superoxide anion, GA, gestational age, BW, birth weight