Prooxidant-antioxidant balance in perinatal asphyxia

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Neonatal Medicine
• Oxidative Stress Research

Background:

• Neonatal asphyxia is a critical condition.
• Oxidative stress plays a role in neonatal pathophysiology.
• Prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) is an indicator of oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in neonatal asphyxia.
• To compare PAB levels in neonates with asphyxia versus healthy neonates.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study.
• Serum PAB measured in umbilical cord blood.
• Comparison between 30 neonates with asphyxia and 35 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher serum PAB levels in neonates with asphyxia (40.46 HK units) compared to healthy controls (20.00 HK units).
• Lower blood pH, HCO3(-), and higher pCO2 in the asphyxia group.
• PAB elevation correlates with indicators of perinatal asphyxia.

Conclusions:

• Serum PAB determination can be a valuable tool for early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia.
• PAB findings are consistent with established clinical markers like HCO3(-), pCO2, and Apgar score.