Umbilical cord unbound free fatty acid concentration and low apgar score

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Research
• Biochemistry
• Perinatal Medicine

Background:

• Increased unbound Free Fatty acid (FFAu) levels are observed in adults experiencing acute hypoxia-ischemia.
• Neonatal distress, indicated by low Apgar scores, may be associated with similar biochemical changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if infants with low 1-minute Apgar scores exhibit elevated unbound Free Fatty acid (FFAu) levels in their cord blood.
• To explore the correlation between cord FFAu levels and markers of neonatal distress.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 199 infants (25-41 weeks gestational age) was studied.
• Cord blood samples were collected, and FFAu levels were measured using the fluorescent probe acrylodan-derivatized intestinal fatty acid binding protein.
• Infants were categorized into low (Apgar < 5) and normal Apgar score groups.

Main Results:

• Infants with low 1-minute Apgar scores (n=32) had significantly higher cord FFAu levels (4.4+/-1.7 nM) compared to controls (n=167, 3.2+/-1.2 nM; p<0.001).
• Cord FFAu levels showed an inverse correlation with 1-minute Apgar score (r=-0.31, p<0.05) and cord pH (r=-0.12, p<0.05).
• Low Apgar group exhibited lower 5-minute Apgar scores, lower cord pH, and higher frequency of meconium passage.

Conclusions:

• Elevated cord unbound Free Fatty acid (FFAu) levels are significantly associated with low 1-minute Apgar scores in newborns.
• These findings suggest that elevated FFAu may serve as a biomarker for hypoxia-ischemia in neonates experiencing birth distress.