Study on serum Tau protein level and neurodevelopmental outcome of placental abruption with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore differences in serum Tau protein levels and neurodevelopmental prognoses of placental abruption or umbilical cord around neck with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Methods: Forty neonates with moderate/severe HIE divided into placental abruption with HIE group (placental abruption with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (PA-HIE) group) (n = 18) and umbilical cord around the neck with HIE group (umbilical cord around the neck with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (UCAN-HIE) group) (n = 22). Healthy term newborns comprised the control group (n = 35). Serum Tau protein levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 24 hours (3.50 hours [1.00–24.00]) after birth. Neurodevelopment outcomes were assessed based on the Gesell Developmental Scale at 9 months of age.

Results: Serum Tau protein levels were significantly higher in 40 cases (1013 pg/ml [538.04–1190.42]) than in the control group (106.41 pg/ml [64.55–154.71], p = .0001). Serum Tau protein levels in the PA-HIE group (1024.46 pg/ml [657.88–1190.42]) were significantly higher than those in the UCAN-HIE group (892.78 pg/ml [538.04–1179.50], p = .0149). The development quotient score in the PA-HIE group (67.0 [47.0–90.0]) was significantly lower than that in the UCAN-HIE group (81.5 [52.6–100.0]) (p = .0028). The component ratio of neurodevelopmental retardation in the PA-HIE group (44.45%) was significantly higher than that in the UCAN-HIE group (22.73%) (X² = 13.3138, p = .0013).

Conclusions: Compared with the UCAN-HIE group, the serum Tau protein level and the component ratio of neurodevelopmental retardation were significantly higher in the PA-HIE group.

Keywords:

• Developmental quotient
• hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• neonates
• neurodevelopment outcome
• placental abruption
• Tau protein
• umbilical cord around neck

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Health and Family Planning Commission of Hebei [NO: 20150033]; Science and technology research and development project of Handan City, Hebei Province [No: 152810879–6]; Science and Technology Department of Hebei Province [NO: 162777201].