Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Early Brain Activity in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study
Caterina Coviello1, Serafina Perrone2, Giuseppe Buonocore3
1Division of Neonatology, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Insights
Higher postnatal F2-isoprostane (IP) levels in preterm infants correlate with reduced brain activity. Postnatal IPs may serve as a biomarker for brain vulnerability in high-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Biomarkers
- Neurodevelopmental Outcome
Background:
- Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) measures early brain activity in preterm infants, predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- F2-isoprostanes (IPs) are emerging biomarkers indicating potential brain damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between perinatal F2-isoprostane concentrations and quantitative aEEG measures in preterm newborns.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-nine preterm infants (GA 24-27 weeks) underwent aEEG monitoring in the first 48 hours post-birth.
- Spontaneous Activity Transients (SAT) rate and Inter-SAT Interval (ISI) were calculated.
- Plasma F2-isoprostanes were measured from cord blood (cb-IPs) and postnatal samples (pl-IPs).
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between cb-IPs and aEEG measures on day 1.
- Higher pl-IPs levels on day 2 correlated with longer ISI (R=0.68, p=0.034) and decreased SAT rate (R=0.58, p=0.007), adjusted for GA, FiO2, and IVH.
- Elevated postnatal IPs indicate reduced functional brain activity.
Conclusions:
- Postnatal F2-isoprostane levels are linked to decreased functional brain activity in preterm infants.
- Pl-IPs may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing brain vulnerability in high-risk neonates.
Abstract:
Early brain activity, measured using amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG), is correlated with neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm newborns. F2-isoprostanes (IPs) are early biomarkers predictive for brain damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between perinatal IPs concentrations and quantitative aEEG measures in preterm newborns. Thirty-nine infants (gestational age (GA) 24-27 ± 6 weeks) who underwent neuromonitoring using aEEG during the first two days after birth were enrolled. The rate of spontaneous activity transients per minute (SAT rate) and inter-SAT interval (ISI) in seconds were computed. Two postnatal time-points were examined: within 12 h (day 1) and between 24 and 48 h (day 2). IPs were measured in plasma from cord blood (cb-IPs) and between 24 and 48 h (pl-IPs). Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the correlation between IPs and brain activity. Cb-IPs were not associated with SAT rate and ISI at day 1. Higher pl-IPs were followed by longer ISI (R = 0.68; p = 0.034) and decreased SAT rate (R = 0.58; p = 0.007) at day 2 after adjusting for GA, FiO2 and IVH. Higher pl-IPs levels are associated with decreased functional brain activity. Thus, pl-IPs may represent a useful biomarker of brain vulnerability in high-risk infants.
