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Cortisol secretion in stressed babies during the neonatal period
G Economou1, S Andronikou, A Challa
1Child Health Department, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Insights
Sick newborns show higher serum cortisol levels, indicating a stress response. Healthy babies, both full-term and preterm, exhibit a natural cortisol rhythm during their first month of life.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Endocrinology
- Pediatric medicine
Background:
- Serum cortisol levels are crucial indicators of physiological stress in neonates.
- Understanding cortisol secretion patterns is vital for assessing infant health and development.
- Distinguishing between normal and stress-induced cortisol responses is clinically significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental pattern of serum cortisol secretion in sick full-term and preterm neonates.
- To compare these patterns with those of healthy neonates during the first 30 days of life.
- To evaluate the physiological stress response in sick infants.
Main Methods:
- Studied four groups of 15 neonates each (sick full-term, healthy full-term, sick preterm, healthy preterm).
- Collected serial venous blood samples at four time points daily (08:00, 14:00, 20:00, 02:00) over the first four weeks of life.
- Analyzed serum cortisol levels to identify developmental patterns and group differences.
Main Results:
- Sick neonates (both full-term and preterm) exhibited significantly higher serum cortisol levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001).
- These elevated levels in sick infants suggest an appropriate physiological response to stress.
- Healthy full-term and preterm neonates demonstrated a free-running rhythm in serum cortisol levels throughout the first four weeks.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal illness triggers a heightened cortisol response, indicative of stress.
- A normal circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion is established in healthy neonates within the first month.
- Monitoring serum cortisol provides insights into the health status and stress adaptation of newborns.
Abstract:
The present study investigates the developmental pattern of serum cortisol secretion in sick fullterm and preterm neonates in comparison to that of normal babies over the first 30 days of life. Four groups of babies (15 in each group) were studied sequentially during the first 4 weeks of life. Serial venous blood samples were drawn at 08.00, 14.00, 20.00 and 02.00 h from each baby. The higher cortisol levels (p < 0.001) observed in sick preterm and full-term neonates, when compared to their respective controls, suggest an appropriate response to stress. Fullterm and preterm babies with no problem were found to have a free running rhythm in serum cortisol levels during the first 4 weeks of life.