Evaluation of serum malondialdehyde in relation to other clinical considerations in …42 premature neonates.

Abstract

In a pioneer study conducted in Iraq, the serum levels of malondialdehyde were tested to evaluate their role in premature neonates. The study was conducted in Tikrit Teaching Hospital during the period from the 1st of February 2006 till the 1st of July 2007. The study had been done on 300 neonates; they were divided into 4 groups, and these includes 100 apparently healthy normal birth weight mature neonates (NBW), 100 apparently healthy low birth weight premature neonates (LBW), 50 low birth weight premature neonates with birth asphyxia (LBW+BA), and 50 low birth weight premature neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (LBW+RDS). The malondialdehyde (MDA) level was measured in sera of the studied neonates and the control groups. The results revealed that: there is a significant statistical difference between the NBW and the LBW neonates regarding the birth weight and the gestational age while there is no significant difference concerning the age of the newborns. Also there is a significant statistical difference between the LBW neonates and the LBW+BA and LBW+RDS neonates regarding the gestational age, age, and birth weight. It was revealed that the mean serum level of MDA is higher in LBW in comparison with the NBW, which is statistically significant at a P value of less than 0.001. The mean serum level of MDA in LBW+BA is significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the mean values in LBW and NBW neonates. As well as the LBW+RDS has a mean serum level of MDA, which is significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the mean level in LBW and NBW neonates. It is also evident that the mean serum level of MDA in LBW+BA is significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the mean value in LBW+RDS. The correlation between serum MDA levels and birth weight, have a strong positive correlation (r = +0.31, significant at the 0.01 level) in NBW neonates. There is a strong positive correlation (r = +0.32, significant at the 0.01 level) between serum MDA levels and the birth weight in LBW+BA. In conclusion; The mean serum MDA level in LBW was significantly higher than that in NBW neonates