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Endogenous tissue plasminogen activator in neonatal cerebrospinal fluid
A Whitelaw1, M C Mowinckel, V Fellman
1Paediatric Department, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) is found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infants with post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. This suggests tPA may be involved in the response to intraventricular hemorrhage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) is crucial for neuronal differentiation and activity-dependent structural plasticity.
- Fibrinolysis, the breakdown of blood clots, is a critical process following hemorrhage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and concentration of tPA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infants with post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD).
- To determine if tPA levels differ between normal newborns and those with PHVD.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of tPA antigen in CSF samples.
- Comparison of tPA levels in 13 normal newborn infants and 14 infants diagnosed with PHVD.
Main Results:
- tPA was undetectable or at the limit of detection (1 µg/l) in normal infant CSF.
- CSF tPA concentrations in infants with PHVD ranged from 1.3 to 3.5 µg/l.
- Persistence of detectable tPA in CSF was observed from 3 to 8 weeks of age in one infant.
Conclusions:
- Endogenous tPA may be part of the physiological response to intraventricular hemorrhage in neonates.
- Alternatively, tPA might passively diffuse into the CSF following such events.