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Eicosanoid levels in CSF of premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus
R P White1, C W Leffler, H S Bada
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Memphis 38163.
Insights
This study found that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus contains various eicosanoids, particularly peptidoleukotrienes (LTs) and thromboxane B2 (TxB2), indicating neurological damage.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Neurology
- Neuroinflammation
Background:
- Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus is a serious complication in premature infants.
- The role of eicosanoids in neonatal neurological injury is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and concentration of various eicosanoids in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
- To explore the relationship between eicosanoid levels and the need for surgical intervention (shunting).
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay was used to quantify prostaglandin E2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, thromboxane B2 (TxB2), and peptidoleukotrienes (LTC4/LTD4) in CSF samples.
- CSF samples were collected from 11 premature infants diagnosed with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
Main Results:
- Peptidoleukotrienes (LTs) were the most frequently detected eicosanoids (70%) and often present in the highest concentrations.
- Eicosanoid levels were highest shortly after the neurological injury and decreased over time.
- TxB2 and LTs were significantly more prevalent in infants requiring shunting compared to those who did not.
Conclusions:
- The cerebrospinal fluid of preterm infants with neurological assault can contain a diverse range of eicosanoids.
- Eicosanoids, particularly LTs and TxB2, may serve as biomarkers for neurological injury and the need for intervention in premature infants.
Abstract:
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 11 premature infants suffering from posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus was examined by radioimmunoassay for prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and peptidoleukotrienes (LTC4/LTD4). The LTs were detected in the CSF of more of these patients (70%) than any of the other eicosanoids, and usually in the highest concentration. Among the 11 posthemorrhagic patients CSF eicosanoid levels were highest when determined soon after injury. Moreover, the variety of eicosanoids present, as well as concentrations, in these infants decreased with time. The types of eicosanoids most evident in the CSF of patients who required shunting were TxB2 and LTs, being present together in 5 of 6 (83%) of these infants. In contrast, 1 of 5 (20%) of the patients who did not require this neurosurgical intervention contained both TxB2 and LTs, the remaining having only one or neither eicosanoid. The highest average concentration for each eicosanoid studied was (pg/ml): PGE2, 628; PGF2 alpha, 985; PGD2, 1410; 6-keto PGF1 alpha, 544; TxB2, 486 and LTs, 1229. This study is the first to demonstrate that the CSF of preterm infants may contain a wide variety of eicosanoids and indicates that these lipids are a manifestation of neurological assault.