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Urinary nitrite/nitrate excretion in infancy: comparison between term and preterm infants
H Tsukahara1, M Hiraoka, C Hori
1Department of Pediatrics, Fukui Medical School, Japan.
Early Human Development
|January 3, 1997
Summary
Urinary nitrite/nitrate (NOx-) excretion, an indicator of nitric oxide production, was measured in infants. Preterm infants showed higher NOx- levels, suggesting an activated nitric oxide pathway early in life.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Biochemical markers in pediatrics
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in infant physiology.
- Urinary nitrite/nitrate (NOx-) excretion serves as a reliable index of endogenous NO formation.
- Establishing reference values for NOx- is essential for assessing NO pathway function in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure urinary NOx- excretion in term and preterm infants.
- To establish normative data for NOx- levels across different infant ages.
- To investigate potential differences in NO production between term and preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Urinary NOx- excretion was measured in term and preterm infants.
- Infants were assessed at 1 week, 1 month, 4 months, and 7 months of age.
- Statistical comparisons were made between term and preterm groups.
Main Results:
- In term infants, urinary NOx- excretion increased from 1 week to 1 month, then decreased and stabilized by 4 months.
- Preterm infants exhibited significantly higher urinary NOx- excretion compared to term infants at 1 week of age.
- These findings indicate a potentially heightened nitric oxide pathway activity in preterm neonates.
Conclusions:
- Urinary NOx- excretion provides a valuable tool for assessing nitric oxide production in infants.
- Preterm infants may have an activated nitric oxide pathway in early life.
- Reference values obtained can aid in identifying infants with abnormal nitric oxide metabolism.