The Predictive Value of Elevation in Specific Serum Enzymes for Subsequent Development of Hypoxic­ Ischemic Encephalopathy in Full-Term and Premature Asphyxiated Newborns

Abstract

Birth asphyxia is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It remains difficult to predict the dey lopment of neurologic disorders associated with perinatal asphyxi . We measured serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hydroxy butyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) and aspartate amino transaminase (AST) activities in 30 asphniated and 30 0 healthy newborns at 3 fixed times (0, 24, 72hrs postpartum). We found that, LDH, HBDH, & AST activities are significantly higher (p < 0.005) in asphyxiated newborns up to 72 hrs postpartum. Furthermore, the elevated enzyme activities were found to correlate with the development of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The overall predictive values showed a high sensitivity (96%), specificity (60%), positive predictive value (92.3%) and negative predictive value (75%) for these enzyme measurements regarding the development of HIE in asphyxiated newborns.