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New biomarkers of fetal‐neonatal hypoxic stress
Author(s) -
Perrone S,
Bracci R,
Buonocore G
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2002.tb02919.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hypoxia (environmental) , encephalopathy , neuroprotection , brain damage , cord blood , fetus , hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy , ischemia , bioinformatics , intensive care medicine , pregnancy , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , oxygen , genetics
The complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying perinatal hypoxia make it difficult to define early markers of severe hypoxia‐ischemia encephalopathy. However, as progress in the development of neuroprotective therapeutic measures continues, the early identification of neonates at risk of severe hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy is an important goal for appropriate decision making. Although the timing of perinatal hypoxic brain damage may vary and is sometimes unknown, high levels of non‐protein‐bound iron and high nucleated red blood cell counts in cord blood indicate an antepartum origin of neurological impairment, because they can occur only as a consequence of a pre‐existing asphyxic event. Conclusion : The combined assessment of nucleated red blood cells and non‐protein‐bound iron at birth seems extremely useful for the early identification of newborns at high risk of brain damage. Activin A also seems to be a reliable marker of perinatal hypoxia. Prospective long‐term follow‐up studies are needed to verify their predictive role.