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Circulating 5‐hydroxytryptamine concentrations in preterm newborns
Author(s) -
Schumacher R. E.,
Farrell P. M.,
Olson E. B.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.1950030214
Subject(s) - respiratory distress , medicine , respiratory system , serotonin , pathophysiology , platelet , respiratory disease , endocrinology , anesthesia , lung , receptor
Alterations in circulating 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) concentrations play a role in the pathophysiology of respiratory failure in adults. We undertook a study to develop a micromethod and measure circulating free 5‐HT concentrations in preterm newborns with and without respiratory distress. Forty‐six samples of platelet‐poor plasma were obtained from 29 preterm newborns with varying degrees of respiratory distress. Samples were taken on days 2–3 and 6–7 of life. For measuring 5‐HT concentrations we used a precolumn sample enhancement technique followed by ion exchange HPLC with electrochemical detection. The assay allowed detection of extremely small (50 pg) amounts of 5‐HT from small (0.2 ml) amounts of blood. The mean 5‐HT concentration on days 2–3 was 1.77 ± 0.74 ng/ml (mean ± 95% confidence limits) and on days 6–7 was 0.69 ± 0 23 ng/ml. This represented a significant fall in 5‐HT concentrations (P = 0.01). All of 16 paired serial samples fell with time (P = 0.006). We conclude that platelet‐poor plasma 5‐HT concentrations in premature newborns are low, that there is a significant decline in these values over the first week of life, and that, in contrast with adults, the presence of respiratory failure is not associated with increased free 5‐HT concentrations. The low 5‐HT concentrations seen in newborns may reflect the ability to increase pulmonary uptake. Pediatr Pulmonol 1987; 3:117–122 .