Transient elevation of aldosterone levels in perinatal asphyxia.

We measured plasma aldosterone levels in cord blood and peripheral blood collected 18-24 h after birth in 19 asphyxiated and 19 normal term newborn infants. The asphyxiated newborn infants had significantly higher aldosterone levels in cord blood than the normal newborn infants. At 18-24 h after birth there was no difference between the groups with respect to aldosterone levels. There was a positive significant correlation between aldosterone levels and PCO2 in cord blood by multiple linear regression analysis. There is a transient elevation of aldosterone levels in perinatal asphyxia.