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Correlation between Severity of Fetal Growth Restriction and Oxidative Stress in Severe Small-for-Gestational-Age
Mariko Ashina1, Takumi Kido1, Yuki Kyono1
1Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 6500017, Japan.
Insights
Severe small-for-gestational-age (sSGA) infants show higher oxidative stress at birth. This oxidative stress, measured by d-ROM and OSI, is linked to the severity of intrauterine growth restriction.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Severe small-for-gestational-age (sSGA) is associated with increased infant mortality and morbidity.
- Oxidative stress is a potential contributing factor to intrauterine growth restriction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and quantify the level of oxidative stress at birth in infants with sSGA.
- To explore the relationship between oxidative stress markers and the severity of growth restriction in sSGA infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of sera from 28 sSGA infants and 31 non-sSGA controls.
- Measurement of oxidative stress markers: derivative of reactive oxidative metabolites (d-ROM), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and oxidative stress index (OSI).
- Comparison of anthropometric measurements including birth weight (BW) and BW z-score between groups.
Main Results:
- sSGA infants had significantly lower BW, BW z-score, head circumference, and height compared to controls.
- No significant difference in BAP levels was observed.
- sSGA infants exhibited significantly higher d-ROM levels and OSI compared to controls.
- In sSGA infants, BW z-score showed an inverse correlation with d-ROM levels and OSI.
Conclusions:
- Infants classified as sSGA, including preterm infants, demonstrate elevated levels of oxidative stress at birth.
- The degree of fetal growth restriction in sSGA infants is significantly correlated with their oxidative stress levels at birth.
Abstract:
Severe small-for-gestational-age (sSGA) infants exhibit increased mortality and morbidity. Oxidative stress is suggested to be involved in intrauterine growth restriction. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress level at birth in an sSGA population. Sera of 28 sSGA (sSGA group) and 31 non-sSGA (control group) infants, born at our hospital between March 2017 and March 2020, were evaluated. Oxidative stress (derivative of reactive oxidative metabolites: d-ROM level), biological antioxidant potential (BAP) level, and the ratio of d-ROM/BAP level (oxidative stress index: OSI) were measured. The sSGA group had a significantly lower birth weight (BW), BW z-score, head circumference, and height than the control group (all p < 0.05). No significant difference was noted in the BAP level; sSGA infants exhibited a significantly higher d-ROM level than control infants. sSGA infants showed a significantly increased OSI compared with control infants, and the BW z-score was inversely correlated with d-ROM levels and OSI in sSGA infants (R2 = 0.300; p < 0.01 and R2 = 0.319; p = 0.02, respectively) but not in controls. In conclusion, sSGA infants, including preterm infants, exhibited higher oxidative stress at birth. The severity of fetal growth restriction was significantly correlated with oxidative stress levels at birth in sSGA infants.
