BREATH PENTANE AS A MARKER FOR LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND ADVERSE OUTCOMEIN PRETERM INFANTS

Aim-To test the hypothesis that complications of neonatal intensive ca re are related to increased oxygen derived free radical activity, usin g breath pentane as a marker of lipid peroxidation. Methods-Exhaled br eath was collected daily from 57 ventilated preterm infants and pentan e concentration measured by gas chromatography. Results-High peak pent ane exhalation was significantly associated with low gestational age, mortality, intraventricular haemorrhage and retinopathy of prematurity . Peak pentane was not significantly associated with the development o f chronic lung disease. Conclusions-The demonstration that pentane exh alation is related to the course of neonatal disease and its outcome i s consistent with the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation is associated with these illnesses, and may contribute to their severity. If this i s a causal relation, antioxidant treatments could prove useful in redu cing their severity. Measurement of breath pentane might assist in the assessment of antioxidant strategies prior to more extensive clinical trials.