NEW EVIDENCE FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF OXYGEN RADICALS IN TRIGGERING NEONATAL CHRONIC LUNG-DISEASE

We measured the plasma concentration of allantoin, an oxidation produc t of uric acid and an ''in vivo'' marker of free radical generation, w ithin 24-48 h after birth in 10 premature infants who subsequently dev eloped chronic lung disease (CLD) and 9 infants without CLD (non-CLD). The plasma allantoin level (mean +/- SD, 25.9 +/- 9.8 mu M for CLD ve rsus 11.0 +/- 5.7 mu M for non-CLD, p < 0.01) and the allantoin/urate ratio (5.8 +/- 2.0% for CLD infants versus 2.4 +/- 0.9% for non-CLD in fants, p < 0.01) were significantly higher in the CLD group than those in the non-CLD group. These observations suggest the possible involve ment of oxygen radicals in triggering CLD. In addition, the plasma all antoin concentration and the allantoin/urate ratio may be useful early predictors of the development of CLD.