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Subject Area

Pediatrics

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background Perinatal asphyxia is a serious medical condition in which there is a lack of oxygen or blood flow during or even after the labor process. Objective This study aimed to study the serum blood levels of lactate, vitamin D, and count of nucleated red blood cells per 100 white blood cells (nRBC/100 WBC) as early biological predictors of hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) after perinatal asphyxia. Patients and methods A case–control study was conducted on 20 neonates with HIE, comprising the cases, and another 20 neonates, representing the control group, with their gestational age, sex, and weight matched, admitted to a neonatal ICU from March 2020 to the end of September 2020. Venous blood samples for lactate, vitamin D, and nRBCs were drawn during the first 6 h of birth and sent for analysis. Sarnat score was used to assess the severity of HIE. Results Venous blood levels of lactate, with a mean of 71.03, and nRBC/100 WBC, with a mean of 16.6, in HIE neonates were significantly higher than those in the control group, with means of 15.5 and 5.6, respectively (P < 0.001). However, the serum vitamin D was significantly lower in the HIE group, with a mean of 7.11 than that in the control, with a mean of 56.15 (P < 0.001). Conclusion Biomarkers such as serum lactate level, vitamin D level, and nRBCs/100 WBCs might be used in the early prediction of HIE.

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