[A study on lipid peroxidation in neonates--(2). Perioperative changes in serum lipid peroxide and superoxide...

Pre-, intra-, and post-operative changes in serum lipid peroxide: malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were studied in 10 neonates aged from 15 hours to 26 days. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Preoperative serum MDA levels were significantly lower than those of normal neonates. No significant difference was found between pre- and post-operative values, although much fluctuations were observed in neonates within 7 days of age. All the individual values returned to the normal range during the early postoperative period with different respiratory management. 2) Changes in serum SOD activity were similar to those in MDA values. The activity seemed to be higher and more sensitive to oxygen concentration in younger neonates, which may suggest the specific antioxidant properties of the neonates. 3) Postoperatively, serum MDA levels tended to increase following intravenous administration of lipid emulsion. 4) There was a positive correlation between the values of serum MDA and SOD activity, especially in neonates within 7 days of age.