Perinatal blood biomarkers for the identification of brain injury in very low birth weight growth-restricted infants

Shanna L Yue; Ahizechukwu C Eke; Dhananjay Vaidya; Frances J Northington; Allen D Everett; Ernest M Graham

doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01112-8

Perinatal blood biomarkers for the identification of brain injury in very low birth weight growth-restricted infants

J Perinatol. 2021 Sep;41(9):2252-2260. doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01112-8. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Authors

Shanna L Yue¹, Ahizechukwu C Eke², Dhananjay Vaidya³, Frances J Northington^{4

5}, Allen D Everett⁶, Ernest M Graham^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Data Management Core, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁵ Neuroscience Intensive Care Nursery Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁷ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. [email protected].
⁸ Neuroscience Intensive Care Nursery Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. [email protected].

Abstract

Objective: To determine if blood biomarkers measured at delivery and shortly after birth can identify growth-restricted infants at risk for developing severe brain injury.

Study design: In a cohort of very low birth weight neonates, fetal growth restricted (FGR) (birth weight <10%) were compared to non-FGR neonates, and within the FGR group those with brain injury were compared to those without. Biomarkers were measured in cord blood at delivery, and daily for the 1st 5 days of life.

Result: FGR was associated with significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and lower levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). FGR and brain injury were associated with significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Conclusion: Interleukins may be involved in a common pathway contributing to both the development of growth restriction and brain injury, and GFAP may help identify brain injury within this growth-restricted group.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Biomarkers / blood*
Birth Weight
Brain Injuries* / diagnosis
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Interleukins / blood
Pregnancy
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / blood

Substances

Biomarkers
Interleukins
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Grants and funding

R01 HD086058/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States