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Neonatal diseases and oxidative stress in premature infants: an integrative review
Versiéri Oliveira de Almeida1, Renan Augusto Pereira1, Sérgio Luís Amantéa1
1Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Programa de Pós-graduação em Pediatria: Atenção à Saúde da Criança e ao Adolescente, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Insights
Oxidative stress in premature newborns
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Perinatal Health
Background:
- Premature birth is associated with significant neonatal morbidity and mortality.
- Oxidative stress and antioxidant status are implicated in the pathogenesis of various neonatal diseases.
- Cord blood biomarkers may offer insights into the neonatal condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in the cord blood of premature newborns.
- To evaluate the predictive value of these biomarkers for neonatal diseases and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- An integrative review of studies published between 2016 and 2021.
- Searches conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline/Lilacs.
- Included studies analyzing cord blood oxidative stress/antioxidant levels and clinical outcomes in premature infants.
Main Results:
- 18 articles were included in the review.
- 72.2% of studies found a positive association between oxidative stress and prematurity-related diseases.
- Associated conditions included intrauterine growth restriction, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and others.
Conclusions:
- Cord blood oxidative stress and antioxidant analysis can aid in predicting certain neonatal pathologies.
- Oxidative damage contributes to increased short- and long-term morbidity in premature infants.
- Further research is required to establish normative biomarker parameters and clinical guidelines.
Objective:
To describe the relationship of oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in cord blood of premature newborns and the prognosis of diseases in the neonatal period.
Sources:
This study consists of an integrative review. Searches were conducted in electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline/Lilacs through the Virtual Library on Health Issues, using the descriptors: "premature infants", "preterm infants", "preterm birth", "preterm", "oxidative stress", "antioxidants", "infant, premature, diseases" and "cord blood". Original articles published between 2016 and 2021 in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, which analyzed oxidative stress and/or antioxidant levels through cord blood of premature newborns and evaluated clinical outcomes, were included.
Summary Of The Findings:
Of the 1,003 studies reviewed, after exclusion of duplicate articles, analysis of titles, abstracts, and full texts, 18 articles were included. 72.2% (n = 13) of analyzed studies reported a positive association between oxidative stress and the development of prematurity-related diseases; 27.7% (n = 5) showed no significant relation. Outcomes that showed a positive association were: intrauterine growth restriction, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, fetal inflammatory response syndrome, early-onset neonatal sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity, morbidity, and mortality.
Conclusion:
The analysis of oxidative stress and antioxidants in cord blood of premature newborns may be useful in the prognosis of some pathologies. The consequences of oxidative damage are known to be associated with increased morbidity in the short and long term. Further investigation is needed in this population in order to define normality parameters of biomarkers, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
