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Updated: Jul 28, 2025
Identification and Quantification of Deranged Metabolites in Critically Ill Patients Using NMR-Based Metabolomics
Published on: November 29, 2024
Neurosteroid pathway derangement in asphyctic infants treated with hypothermia: an untargeted metabolomic approach
Enrico Valerio1, Matteo Stocchero1, Paola Pirillo1
1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova, Italy; Institute of Pediatric Research "Città Della Speranza", Padova, Italy.
Background:
The pathobiological mechanisms associated with perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are complex and poorly understood. The metabolic effects of therapeutic hypothermia have been partially explored.
Methods:
We conducted a single-center longitudinal study to investigate the metabolic effects of perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy on the urinary metabolome of a group of 12 asphyctic infants over time compared to 22 matched healthy newborns, using untargeted metabolomics based on mass spectrometry.
Findings:
Over-representation pathway analysis identified the steroidogenesis pathway as being significantly disrupted, with reduced steroid levels in the first three days of life despite treatment with hypothermia. Comparison with matched healthy newborns showed that the urinary steroid content was lower in asphyctic infants before hypothermia. The lysine degradation and carnitine synthesis pathways were also significantly affected.
Interpretation:
Steroidogenesis is significantly disrupted in asphyctic infants compared to healthy newborns. Given how neurosteroids are involved in neuromodulation and neuroprotection, translational research is warranted on the potential role of neurosteroid-based intervention in asphyctic infants.
Funding:
None.
