Influence of Neonatal Idiopathic Respiratory Distress Syndrome on Serum Enzyme Activities in Premature Healthy and Asphyxiated Newborns

ABSTRACT

Elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) activities are highly predictive for the development of hypoxia-related neurologic disorders in asphyxiated newborns. Little is known about the influence of the idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) on the serum profile of these enzymes. In a prospective study we measured ASAT, LDH, and HBDH activities in asphyxiated newborns with (n = 12) and without (n = 12) IRDS as well as non-asphyxiated newborns with IRDS (n = 16). Blood samples were taken serially at five fixed times: 0 (cord), 12, 24, 72, and 144 hours postpartum. Whereas both study groups of asphyxiated newborns showed significantly elevated enzyme activities as compared with the non-asphyxiated controls, the fundamental influence of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic events on neonatal serum enzyme profiles and activities of all three enzymes was not significantly altered by the development of IRDS. Therefore, the predictive value of these enzymes for the development of neurologic disorders in asphyxiated newborns is not adversely affected by the development of an immediately and effectively treated IRDS. It is concluded that elevated ASAT, LDH, and HBDH activities can be used as predictors for neurologic disorders in asphyxiated newborns even in the presence of IRDS.

Keywords

Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome - aspartate aminotransferase - lactate dehydrogenase - hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase