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Published on: November 20, 2015
Relationship between premature brain injury and multiple biomarkers in cord blood and amniotic fluid
Hongyan Lu1, Weiling Huang1,2, Xiaoqing Chen3
1a Department of Pediatrics , Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University , Zhenjiang , China.
Insights
Biomarkers in cord blood and amniotic fluid, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and S100B, can predict premature brain injury in infants. These findings aid in early detection and monitoring of brain damage in preterm neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Premature birth poses significant risks for neonatal brain injury.
- Early detection of brain injury is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers is essential for monitoring brain health in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific biomarkers in cord blood and amniotic fluid and the occurrence of premature brain injury.
- To identify potential biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of brain injury in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 130 singleton premature infants (gestational age < 34 weeks).
- Classified infants into brain injury and no brain injury groups based on neuroimaging.
- Measured eleven biomarkers in cord blood and amniotic fluid.
Main Results:
- Elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, G-CSF, MCP-1, sICAM-1, S100B, and activin A were observed in infants with brain injury.
- S100B in amniotic fluid and IL-1β in cord blood showed high sensitivity for predicting brain injury.
- Activin A demonstrated high specificity in both cord blood and amniotic fluid for predicting brain injury.
Conclusions:
- Multiple biomarkers in umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid show predictive value for preterm brain injury.
- Specific biomarkers like S100B, IL-1β, and activin A hold promise for early diagnosis and monitoring.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between premature brain injury and multiple biomarkers in cord blood and amniotic fluid, identify potential biomarkers for early monitoring of premature brain injury.
Methods:
One hundred and thirty cases of singleton premature infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks were evaluated. Based on brain imaging examination, all cases were divided into the brain injury group and the no brain injury group. Eleven biomarkers in cord blood and amniotic fluid were measured.
Results:
Levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), S100B, and activin A were higher in the brain injury group than those in the no brain injury group, in addition to S100B in amniotic fluid (p > .05), the differences were all statistically significant (p < .05). In the value of predicting brain injury, S100B had the highest sensitivity in cord blood, IL-1β had the highest sensitivity in amniotic fluid, and activin A owned the highest specificity both in cord blood and amniotic fluid. Levels of IL-4 and IL-17A were too low and had no predictive value to brain injury.
Conclusions:
A variety of biomarkers in umbilical blood and amniotic fluid can predict preterm brain injury.

