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Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
13:13

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia

Published on: August 24, 2011

[Changes in the system of antioxidant blood defence in newborns with different pathology]

L A Litvinenko1, L A Danilova, N P Shabalov

  • 1Saint-Petersburg Pediatric Medical Academy, Russia, 194100, Saint-Petersburg, Lytovskaya 2.

Voprosy Meditsinskoi Khimii
|December 25, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Newborn antioxidant enzyme activity varies with gestational age and health conditions like hypoxia and hemolytic disease. Haemosorption is a more effective treatment than blood transfusion for maintaining antioxidant levels.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neonatal Physiology

Background:

  • Blood antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and ceruloplasmin, play crucial roles in protecting against oxidative stress.
  • Imbalances in these enzymes are implicated in various neonatal conditions, affecting infant health and survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the activity of blood antioxidant enzymes in newborns across different gestational ages and disease states.
  • To compare the efficacy of haemosorption versus exchange blood transfusion in managing antioxidant levels in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ceruloplasmin activity in blood samples from newborns.
  • Analysis of enzyme activity in relation to gestational age, hypoxia, and hemolytic disease.
  • Comparative assessment of antioxidant activity following haemosorption and exchange blood transfusion.

Main Results:

  • Significantly lower activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was observed in premature infants and those experiencing acute or chronic hypoxia.
  • Newborns with hemolytic disease exhibited markedly higher antioxidant enzyme activity compared to healthy infants.
  • Haemosorption maintained high antioxidant activity, whereas blood transfusion led to decreased levels.

Conclusions:

  • Deficiency in antioxidant enzymes in newborns can result in toxic oxygen effects, highlighting their importance in neonatal health.
  • Antioxidants demonstrate potential as therapeutic agents for conditions characterized by oxidative stress in newborns.
  • Haemosorption presents an advantageous alternative to exchange blood transfusion for preserving blood antioxidant activity.

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