[Acid-base equilibrium and spinal fluid enzyme activity in newborn infants with pathology of the nervous system]

The acid-base balance of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid was studied in 90 babies born in asphyxia in order to use these data in assessing the damage to the nervous system. Analysis revealed the hypoxic nature of the cerebral affection which was manifested by anaerobic glycolysis of the cerebral tissue and arterial hypoxemia. The degree of acidosis detected in the cerebrospinal fluid correlated with the severity of the nervous system damage. Children with the lethal outcome presented deeompensated respiratory acidosis, in the cerebrospinal fluid whereas children with severe neurological pathology had alkalosis. It is concluded that alkolosis is induced by an intensified catabolism of the nervous system proteins which leads to the accumulation of ammoniac compounds. The same children showed pulmonary hyperventilation leading to respiratory acidocis which was not related to pulmonary pathology. The latter points to the hypoxic impairment of the respiratory centre. At the same time, a considerable increase in the activity of the glycolytic enzymes was observed; the activity of glutamate oxalacetate transaminase increased 5-fold, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase rose two-fold.