This study was done to measure vitamin C, cerulop/asmin and antioxidant
activity of plasma at birth and their relation to gestational age. We
also investigated whether the plasma antioxidant activity is influenced by
the vitamin C to ceruloplamin ratio. We also investigated the relation between
plasma antioxidant activity at birth and neonatal mortality. Blood
samples were taken from 36 preterrn newborns and 12 term newborns as
a control group within two hours after birth. Plasma ascorbic acid. centloplasmin
and antioxidant activity of plasma were measured. The premature
infants were cla.ssified into 2 groups: Group I (survivors = 24) and
group II (died, n = 12). Compared to the full term newborns, the plasma
antioxidant activity was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in preterm neonates:
and showed a signcant negative correlation with, plasma ascorbic
acid and vitamin C to ceruloplasmin ratio. The plasma antioxidant activity
was significantly decreased in died preterm infants than survived
preterm infants (P<0.05). There was a significant high (P<0.05) plasma vitamin
C in preterm neonates compared to full term neonates and also
there was a signcant high (P<0.05) vitamin C in died preterm neonates
in comparison to survivors. There was a significant low (P<0.05) plasma
ceruloplasmin in preterm neonates compared to full term neonates, but
there was non significant difference in plasma ceruloplasmin between
died and survived preterm neonates. Thus we concluded that plasma antioxidant
activity at birth is a significant predictor of neonatal mortality. Some preterm neonates are born with low ceruloplasmin and high vitamin
C concentration, the high vitamin C concentration may modulate the ferroxidase
activity of plasma cerulopasmin which may inhibit the antioxidant
activity of plasma. This effect may be an important factor in the mortality
of preterm neonates. |
