Abstract 1321

Infants suffering from fetal distress and intrauterine hypoxia were noted to have elevated urinary thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) levels on the first day of life. Urine samples from five asphyxiated infants, 10 suffering from prenatal hypoxia, and two controls were collected on the first day of life and frozen at -70 F for later examination. The pH adjusted sample was combined with TBA, heated, and analyzed by spectrophotometric analysis. (Table) Although the asphyxia infants were significantly heavier than the hypoxia group, the gestational ages were not different. TBARS excretion was significantly greater in asphyia vs. control infants. Significant correlations (p<0.05) were noted between the one (r=0.73) and five (r=0.76) minute Apgar scores and TBARS levels. The effect of free radicals generation after intrauterine hypoxia can be measured in the newborn, and we conclude that elevated TBARS levels can be used as a biomarker to identify infants with intrauterine hypoxic insult.

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