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High total antioxidant activity and uric acid in tracheobronchial aspirate fluid of preterm infants during oxidative stress: an adaptive response to hyperoxia?
Author(s) -
Vento G,
Mele MC,
Mordente A,
Romagnoli C,
Matassa PG,
Zecca E,
Zappacosta B,
Persichilli S
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2000.tb01336.x
Subject(s) - uric acid , antioxidant , hyperoxia , medicine , oxidative stress , respiratory system , bronchoalveolar lavage , endocrinology , anesthesia , biochemistry , lung , chemistry
The effect of O 2 exposure, expressed by mean daily fractional inspired oxygen concentration (FiO 2 ), was evaluated during the first 6 d of life in the tracheobronchial aspirate fluid of 16 mechanically ventilated preterm infants in terms of both antioxidant response and oxidative damage, by measuring total antioxidant activity, uric acid concentrations and protein carbonyl content. Each day linear regression analysis was performed and a positive correlation was found between total antioxidant activity and FiO 2 during the study period, especially on day 2 of life ( r = 0.91, p < 0.0001), but uric acid correlated only in the first 3 d, especially on the 2nd day ( r = 0.83, p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between carbonyl content and FiO 2 . The highest values of total antioxidant activity (416 and 790 μmol l −1 ) were found in 2 babies ventilated with highest FiO 2 : 1 and 0.80, respectively. Total antioxidant activity was not detectable or was very low in the babies not requiring O 2 therapy. The highest value of uric acid (270 μmol l −1 ) was found in the baby ventilated with 100% oxygen. Uric acid concentrations obtained in these babies were much higher then those reported in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of adults. Preterm babies seem to have an antioxidant response in the tracheobronchial aspirate fluid following an oxidative stress and uric acid may be physiologically important as an antioxidant of the respiratory tract, especially during the first days of life.