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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

A Piglet Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: May 16, 2015
Urine metabolomic profile in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopa-thy
K Sarafidis1, N Efstathiou1, O Begou2
11 Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Background:
Metabolomics could provide valuable insights into hypoxemic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) revealing new disease-associated biochemical derangements. The study aimed to investigate urine metabolic changes in neonates with HIE compared to healthy controls, using targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Patients And Methods:
In this prospective, single-center study we enrolled neonates born at ≥ 36 weeks gestation with HIE (HIE group) and healthy controls (control group). We collected urine samples for metabolomic analysis on days one, three, and nine of life.
Results:
Twenty-one full-term newborns were studied, 13 in the HIE group and eight in the control group. Six of the affected neonates had moderate/severe HIE and seven mild HIE. Therapeutic hypothermia was applied only in four neonates with moderate/severe HIE. Multivariate and univariate statistical analysis showed a clear separation between the HIE and the control groups. Discriminant metabolites involved pyruvic acid, amino acids, acylcarnitines, inositol, kynurenine, hippuric acid, and vitamins.
Conclusions:
We have identified a specific metabolic profile in neonates with HIE, adding to the existing knowledge on the disease biochemistry that may potentially help in biomarker development. HIPPOKRATIA 2017, 21(2): 80-84.
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