Metabolic responses to severe perinatal asphyxia in term newborn infants with particular reference to the changes in...

Blood glucose, blood lactate, plasma FFA, plasma alpha-amino nitrogen and 17 individual amino acids were determined on admission, and at 24 and 48 h after admission in severely asphyxiated term newborn infants. The blood glucose value was widely scatterred and the plasma FFA level was low on admission. The total free plasma amino acid content correlated closely with the severity of asphyxia-induced lactic acidosis. Among the 17 amino acids determined, 11 turned out to be significantly increased. The increase of plasma free amino acids might be toxic for the central nervous system, therefore parenteral feeding of asphyxiated neonates with amino acid mixtures can be dangerous.