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Cord blood myeloperoxidase in preterm infants with periventricular hyperechogenicity
Chien-An Wang1, Kuender D Yang, Chung-Bin Huang
1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Kaoshiung, Taiwan.
Insights
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in cord blood were higher in premature infants with periventricular hyperechogenicity (PVH). This suggests MPO from leukocytes may contribute to PVH development in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Pediatric pathology
- Inflammatory biomarkers
Background:
- Brain white matter lesions in preterm infants are linked to inflammatory processes.
- Periventricular hyperechogenicity (PVH) is a common ultrasound finding in neonates.
- Investigating cord blood inflammatory markers may elucidate PVH pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between cord blood inflammatory mediators and neonatal cerebral ultrasound findings.
- To determine if specific cytokines, adhesion molecules, or inflammatory mediators are associated with PVH in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Cord blood samples from 96 preterm infants were analyzed for inflammatory markers.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify interleukin-8 (IL-8), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), P-selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules (sVCAMs), and myeloperoxidase (MPO).
- Infants were categorized into groups with and without PVH based on neonatal cerebral ultrasound scans.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in IL-8, PGE2, P-selectin, or sVCAM levels between infants with and without PVH.
- Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were found to be marginally significantly higher in the PVH group compared to the non-PVH group (p = 0.024).
Conclusions:
- Leukocyte-derived myeloperoxidase (MPO) may play a role in the development of periventricular hyperechogenicity (PVH) in premature infants.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the contribution of MPO to neonatal brain injury.
Background:
Cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators are believed to play central roles in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of brain white matter lesions. To examine the relationships of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators in the cord blood of preterm infants and neonatal cerebral ultrasound periventricular hyperechogenicity (PVH), cord blood cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators were analyzed, and routine cerebral ultrasound scans were performed in all 96 premature infants.
Methods:
The non-PVH group consisted of 20 infants with normal cerebral ultrasound findings during the first week of life. The PVH group consisted of 20 infants with PVH during the first week of life. Cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators in cord blood including interleukin-8 (IL-8), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), P-selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules (sVCAMs), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
There were no significant differences in IL-8, PGE2, P-selectin, and sVCAM levels between patients with and without PVH. Interestingly, MPO levels were marginally significantly higher in patients with PVH than those without PVH (7.46 +/- 3.6 vs. 4.81 +/- 3.5; p = 0.024).
Conclusions:
It is concluded that MPO from leukocytes may contribute to the occurrence of PVH in premature infants.
