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Published on: November 20, 2015
Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Status and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Neonates Born to Pre-eclamptic Mothers
Shruthi K Bharadwaj1, B Vishnu Bhat2, V Vickneswaran3
1Department of Neonatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605006, India.
Insights
Preeclampsia increases oxidative stress in mothers and newborns. Low maternal antioxidant status is linked to poor infant motor development, aiding in early prediction.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a significant pregnancy complication associated with increased oxidative stress.
- Oxidative stress in preeclamptic pregnancies may impact both maternal and fetal well-being.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born to preeclamptic mothers require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify oxidative stress and antioxidant status in preeclamptic mother-newborn pairs.
- To correlate these biochemical markers with infant neurodevelopmental outcomes at one year corrected age.
- To assess the predictive value of maternal antioxidant status for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 71 preeclamptic and 72 normal mother-newborn dyads.
- Measurement of total antioxidant status (TAS), protein carbonyls, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in maternal and cord blood.
- Neurodevelopmental assessment using the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII) at one year corrected age.
Main Results:
- Preeclamptic dyads exhibited elevated oxidative stress markers (protein carbonyls, MDA) and lower maternal total antioxidant status (M-TAS).
- Infants in the preeclampsia group had higher rates of prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and morbidities (RDS, EOS).
- Lower M-TAS levels were significantly associated with poorer motor development (lower motor age, score, and MoDQ) at one year.
Conclusions:
- Preeclamptic mother-newborn dyads experience heightened oxidative stress.
- Reduced maternal antioxidant status is a key predictor of impaired neuro-motor development in infants.
- Maternal TAS serves as a valuable biomarker for predicting poor motor development in infants of preeclamptic mothers.
Objectives:
To measure the oxidative stress and antioxidant status in preeclamptic mother-newborn dyads and correlate them with neurodevelopmental outcome at one year of corrected age.
Methods:
This cohort study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital, south India included 71 preeclamptic and 72 normal mother-newborn dyads. Biochemical parameters including total antioxidant status (TAS), protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde levels (MDA) were measured in both maternal and cord blood. Infants in both the groups were followed up to one year of corrected age and neurodevelopmental assessment was done using Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII). Correlation and multivariate regression analysis was done to evaluate the oxidative stress markers in relation to neurodevelopmental outcome.
Results:
All oxidative stress markers were higher in maternal and cord blood of pre-ecclampsia group compared to the normal group. Maternal Total antioxidant status (M-TAS) was lower in pre-eclampsia group than normal group. More neonates in the pre-ecclampsia group were preterm and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and had higher incidence of morbidities like respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and early onset sepsis (EOS). Infants in the preeclampsia group had lower motor age, motor score and motor developmental quotient (MoDQ). On multivariate logistic regression analyses, lower M-TAS levels were strongly associated with poor neuro-motor outcomes at 1 y of corrected age. Maternal TAS with a cut-off value of 0.965 mmol/L had a sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 55.3% in predicting MoDQ <70 at one year corrected age in infants born to preeclamptic mothers.
Conclusions:
Oxidative stress is increased in preeclamptic mother-newborn dyads. Low maternal TAS levels are associated with poor neuro-motor outcomes. Maternal TAS in preeclampsia is useful in predicting poor motor development at one year corrected age.
