First day serum creatine kinase BB isoenzyme in high-risk infants

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Biochemistry
• Pediatric Neurology

Background:

• Serum creatine kinase BB (CK-BB) is an enzyme found in various tissues, including the brain.
• Elevated CK-BB levels have been investigated as potential biomarkers for neurological injury in newborns.
• Understanding early biochemical markers is crucial for predicting long-term outcomes in high-risk infant populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of first-day serum CK-BB levels in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• To compare CK-BB levels between very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, severely asphyxiated infants, and controls.
• To determine if CK-BB can discriminate between survivors and non-survivors and predict outcomes in surviving high-risk infants.

Main Methods:

• Radioimmunoassay was used to measure serum CK-BB levels in 37 VLBW infants, 14 severely asphyxiated infants, and 24 controls on the first day of life.
• A follow-up assessment was conducted for survivors (n=31) for at least 12 months.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare CK-BB levels and correlate them with outcomes.

Main Results:

• VLBW non-survivors (n=14) exhibited significantly higher mean CK-BB levels compared to survivors (n=23) (P < 0.05).
• However, within the group of survivors from both high-risk cohorts, serum CK-BB levels were a poor predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome.
• No significant difference in CK-BB levels was found between VLBW survivors and controls.

Conclusions:

• First-day serum CK-BB levels are not a useful predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome in surviving high-risk infants.
• While elevated CK-BB may indicate mortality risk, its predictive value for long-term neurological function in survivors is limited.
• Further research may be needed to identify more reliable biomarkers for predicting neurodevelopmental trajectories in at-risk newborns.