The Role of Plasma Lactate Dehydrogenase Testing in the Prediction of Severe Conditions in Newborn Infants: A Prospective Study

Figures & data

Table 1 General Characteristics of the Study Group of Newborn Infants

Variables	n	%
Gestational age
Preterm infants	(n = 57)	20.7
Full-term infants	(n = 218)	79.3
No breast-feeding or poor feeding
Yes	(n = 47)	17
No	(n = 228)	83
Shortness of breath
Yes	(n = 103)	37.4
No	(n = 172)	62.6
Asphyxia
Yes	(n = 22)	8
No	(n = 253)	92
Early neonatal sepsis
Yes	(n = 72)	26.2
No	(n = 203)	73.8
Respiratory distress requiring CPAP
Yes	(n=11)	4
No	(n=264)	96

Table 2 The Relationship Between LDH Concentration and Newborn Infant Disorders

Variables	LDH (U/l) Median, (IQR)	plog
Gestational age
Preterm infants (n = 57)	594 (496.75–767.25)	p = 0.0006
Full-term infants (n = 218)	751 (602–922)
No breast-feeding or poor feeding
Yes (n = 47)	823 (656.25–952)	p = 0.0441
No (n = 228)	706 (568–872.5)
Shortness of breath
Yes (n = 103)	752 (616.5–946.7)	p = 0.0198
No (n = 172)	701.5 (567–870.5)
Asphyxia
Yes (n = 22)	756 (640–1110)	p = 0.0289
No (n = 253)	712 (576–882.25)
Early neonatal sepsis
Yes (n = 72)	755.5 (645–960.5)	p = 0.0035
No (n = 203)	707 (562.25–881.25)
Respiratory distress requiring CPAP
Yes (n=11)	903 (628.75–1285.25)	p = 0.0421
No (n=264)	719 (576.5–882)

Note: p_log: Independent t-test.

Table 3 The Model Optimally Predicting the Factors Related to Plasma LDH Levels Through a Multivariate Regression Analysis

Factors	p	r	R^2
Gestational age	0.0004	0.1822	0.09116
Asphyxia	0.0285	0.1420
Early neonatal infection	0.0170	0.1811
Respiratory distress requiring CPAP	0.0047	0.1291