VASOPRESSIN IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF NEWBORNS WITH HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY - PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Vasopressin in cerebrospinal fluid has been measured in 27 fullterm ne wborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. These newborns were divid ed into three groups according to the degrees of neurological involvem ent, and they have been compared with a control group of 10 newborns. Determinations of vasopressin in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were d one by RIA. The cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin in asphyxiated newborn s was higher than in the control group (p < 0.001); the mean concentra tion in the group of newborns classified as moderate or severe hypoxic -ischemic encephalopathy was higher than in the control group (18.7 pg /ml vs 4.66 pg/ml), and also higher than in the group classified as mi ld (14.2 pg/ml). Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin values have a direct relationship to the plasmatic values at 12 hours of life (r = 0.76; p < 0.001). We concluded that vasopressin values in cerebrospinal fluid at 12 hours increase according to the clinical severity of the neonata l hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and that they have a strong relation ship with plasmatic vasopressin.