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Plasma homocysteine concentrations of preterm infants
P Hongsprabhas1, F Saboohi, J V Aranda
1Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Preterm infants have lower plasma homocysteine levels than term infants and adults. These levels may increase slightly in the first two weeks of life, suggesting hyperhomocysteinemia is not typical in preterm neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Biochemistry
- Vascular Disease Research
Background:
- Mild hyperhomocysteinemia in adults is linked to increased vascular disease risk.
- Preterm infants exhibit sulfur amino acid metabolism abnormalities, yet their homocysteine levels are unstudied.
- Understanding homocysteine in preterm infants is crucial due to potential vascular implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure plasma total homocysteine concentrations in preterm infants shortly after birth and during the first two weeks of life.
- To compare homocysteine and cysteine levels in preterm infants with those of term infants and normal adults.
- To investigate the changes in plasma homocysteine concentrations in preterm infants during the early neonatal period.
Main Methods:
- Plasma total homocysteine and cysteine concentrations were measured in 9 preterm infants (23-31 weeks gestation) within 48 hours of birth and over 14 days.
- Concentrations were also measured in 4 term infants (36-39 weeks gestation) within 72 hours of birth.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare groups and assess changes over time.
Main Results:
- Within 48 hours of birth, preterm infants had significantly lower average plasma homocysteine (3.8 microM) and cysteine (122 microM) than term infants and adults.
- Plasma homocysteine levels in preterm infants showed a trend towards gradual increase during the first two weeks of life (p=0.053).
- Cysteine levels did not show a significant change over the observed period.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants do not typically present with hyperhomocysteinemia at birth.
- Plasma homocysteine levels in preterm infants are lower compared to term infants and adults.
- A slight increase in homocysteine may occur during the initial neonatal period in preterm infants.
Abstract:
Mild hyperhomocysteinemia in adults is associated with an increased risk of vascular disease. Although information is available about plasma homocysteine concentrations in childhood, data are entirely lacking for preterm infants despite their known abnormalities of sulfur amino acid metabolism. We measured plasma total homocysteine concentrations of 9 preterm infants (gestational age 23-31 weeks) within 48 h of birth and over the subsequent 14 days of life, and 4 term infants (gestational age 36-39 weeks) on a single occasion within 72 h of birth. As measured within 48 h of birth, average plasma homocysteine and cysteine concentrations of the preterm infants were 3.8 +/- 0.3 and 122 +/- 8 microM, both significantly less than those of the term infants (6.1 +/- 1.3 and 187 +/- 39) and of normal adults (8.2 +/- 0.5 and 232 +/- 6). Plasma homocysteine (but not cysteine) appeared to gradually increase during the first 2 weeks of life (p = 0.053). Our results indicate that hyperhomocysteinemia does not normally occur in preterm infants.