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Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid glutathione in intubated premature infants
J Grigg1, A Barber, M Silverman
1Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Insights
Preterm infants with lower glutathione levels at birth may be at higher risk for developing chronic lung disease. This suggests a potential link between glutathione deficiency and lung injury in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chronic lung disease (CLD) is a significant concern in preterm infants.
- Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of CLD.
- Glutathione is a key endogenous antioxidant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early-life glutathione concentrations and the development of CLD in preterm infants.
- To determine if glutathione levels on the first day of life can predict subsequent lung injury.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of uncorrected glutathione concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on day 1 of life.
- Comparison of glutathione levels between infants who developed CLD and those who did not require supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks' postconceptional age.
Main Results:
- Lower concentrations of glutathione were observed in infants who later developed CLD compared to controls.
- Glutathione levels on day 1 were not dependent on gestational age.
- These findings are preliminary.
Conclusions:
- Glutathione appears to accumulate in the lung epithelial lining fluid of preterm infants.
- A relative deficiency in glutathione may predispose preterm infants to lung injury and the development of CLD.
Abstract:
Lower concentrations of uncorrected glutathione in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were found on the first day of life in seven infants who subsequently developed chronic lung disease when compared with 27 infants who did not require supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks' postconceptional age. The concentration of glutathione on the first day was independent of gestational age. These preliminary results suggest that glutathione accumulates in the lung epithelial lining fluid of preterm infants and that a relative deficiency may predispose to lung injury.