Umbilical activin A concentration as an early marker of perinatal hypoxia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate activin A as a potential, early marker of perinatal hypoxia and to analyze factors, other than hypoxia, which influence on activin A concentration. Methods: Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from 86 newborns with gestational age 30–41. Of the 86 newborns, 26 were regarded as hypoxic. Activin A concentrations were measured by means of specific two-site enzyme immunoassays. Activin A concentrations were correlated with newborns’ gender, week gestation, mode of delivery and blood gas measurements. Results: Activin A levels were significantly higher in hypoxic than nonhypoxic newborns (medians, minimum and maximum values: 1.516; 0.149 –1.974 versus 0.368; 0.054 – 1.041 ng/mL, p = 0.0452). Activin A concentration was significantly higher in male newborns (p = 0.0074). Activin A levels were lower in term than preterm babies but the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.2368 in hypoxic, p = 0.2487 nonhypoxic). Mode of delivery did not influence on activin A concentration (p = 0.8293 hypoxic, p = 0.9458 nonhypoxic). The differences of occurrence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in both group was not statistically significant (p = 0.61). Conclusions: Umbilical artery activin A combined with other markers of hypoxia could be a useful marker of perinatal hypoxia. Concentration of activin A is significantly higher in male newborns. The mode and time of delivery have no influence on activin A concentration.

Keywords::

• Biochemical marker
• full-term newborn
• hypoxia
• newborn
• preterm newborn
• prevention

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the labor ward staff at University Hospital of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice for their support with sample collections.

Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.