ARACHIDONIC-ACID METABOLITES IN CSF IN HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY OF NEWBORN-INFANTS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebral synthesis of eicosa noids in the asphyctic newborn and to investigate the relation between the prostanoid profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the appearan ce and severity of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Levels of 6 -keto-PGF(1-alpha), TXB2, PGE(2) and PGF(2-alpha) in CSF were measured in 40 full term newborns during the first day of life. Thirty of thes e newborns had birth asphyxia and were divided into three groups: 10 w ithout HIE, 12 with mild HIE and 8 with moderate-severe HIE. They were compared to a control group of 10 non-hypoxic newborns, Determination s of the metabolites in CSF were performed by RIA and expressed as pg/ ml (mean +/- SD). The CSF TXB2 (thromboxane A(2) metabolite) in asphyx iated newborns was always higher than in the control group (28.12 +/- 10.6), and related to the severity of HIE (p = 0.005): without HIE (50 .84 +/- 16.4; p = 0.02), mild HIE (80.65 +/- 12.64; p < 0.01) and mode rate-severe of HIE (178.14 +/- 20.5; p < 0.01). The CSF 6-keto-PGF(1-a lpha) (prostacyclin metabolite) in asphyxiated newborns was always hig her than in the control group (80.55 +/- 12.56), but indirectly relate d to the severity of HIE: without HIE (240.95 +/- 28.12; p < 0.01), mi ld HIE (183.65 +/- 30.1: p < 0.01) and moderate-severe HIE (140.55 +/- 25.12; p < 0.01). In the moderate-seven HIE group, the increase in TX B2 was higher than the rise in 6-keto-PGF(1-alpha).