Role of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide in newborn infants with postasphyxial hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

METHODS

Plasma CO and NO levels were studied in 33 asphyxiated term neonates, and 30 healthy neonates served as controls.

RESULTS

Among the 33 asphyxiated term neonates, plasma CO and NO levels in 28 neonates with HIE were significantly higher than those in the 5 infants without HIE and in the normal controls. The plasma CO and NO levels in the newborn infants with HIE stage 3 were found to be significantly higher than those in the neonates with HIE stage 1 and 2. Moreover, plasma CO and NO levels were significantly increased in neonates with brain damage and adverse outcome as compared with those in patients with normal neuroimaging and normal outcome.

CONCLUSION

Plasma CO and NO levels after perinatal asphyxia are related to the severity of neonatal HIE, brain damage, and neurologic outcome. The present study suggests that CO and NO might play important roles in the pathogenesis of neonatal HIE.