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Updated: May 17, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Biomarkers of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns
Martha Douglas-Escobar1, Michael D Weiss
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA ; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA.
Insights
Biomarkers are crucial for detecting neonatal brain injury from hypoxic-ischemic injury (HIE). These markers aid in screening, monitoring, and assessing treatments for affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal intensive care
- Neuroprotection
- Biomarker discovery
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care has shifted focus from mortality to improving both mortality and morbidity.
- Hypoxic-ischemic injury (HIE) is a common cause of neonatal brain injury, affecting 2 in 1,000 full-term infants.
- Severe HIE can lead to lifelong disabilities and neurodevelopmental delays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review established and novel biomarkers for hypoxic-ischemic injury (HIE) in neonates.
- To highlight the role of biomarkers in screening, monitoring, and evaluating neuroprotective therapies.
- To contribute to the awareness, validation, and clinical application of neonatal brain injury biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on biomarkers for hypoxic-ischemic injury (HIE).
- Discussion of specific biomarkers including S100B, neuron specific enolase, umbilical cord IL-6, CK-BB, GFAP, myelin basic protein, UCHL-1, and pNF-H.
- Exploration of biomarker utility in clinical trials and patient management.
Main Results:
- Biomarkers are essential for identifying neonatal brain injury.
- Specific biomarkers (S100B, NSE, IL-6, CK-BB, GFAP, MBP, UCHL-1, pNF-H) show potential for HIE assessment.
- Biomarkers aid in understanding injury timing, pathophysiology, and therapeutic effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Biomarkers are critical for advancing neonatal neuroprotection strategies.
- Further validation and clinical use of biomarkers are needed for improved HIE management.
- Biomarkers offer hope for better outcomes in infants with neonatal brain injury.
Abstract:
As neonatal intensive care has evolved, the focus has shifted from improving mortality alone to an effort to improve both mortality and morbidity. The most frequent source of neonatal brain injury occurs as a result of hypoxic-ischemic injury. Hypoxic-ischemic injury occurs in about 2 of 1,000 full-term infants and severe injured infants will have lifetime disabilities and neurodevelopmental delays. Most recently, remarkable efforts toward neuroprotection have been started with the advent of therapeutic hypothermia and a key step in the evolution of neonatal neuroprotection is the discovery of biomarkers that enable the clinician-scientist to screen infants for brain injury, monitor progression of disease, identify injured brain regions, and assess efficacy of neuroprotective clinical trials. Lastly, biomarkers offer great hope identifying when an injury occurred shedding light on the potential pathophysiology and the most effective therapy. In this article, we will review biomarkers of HIE including S100B, neuron specific enolase, umbilical cord IL-6, CK-BB, GFAP, myelin basic protein, UCHL-1, and pNF-H. We hope to contribute to the awareness, validation, and clinical use of established as well as novel neonatal brain injury biomarkers.
