Ischemic-Modified Albumin in Neonates with Congenital Heart Defects

OBJECTIVES

 Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a new biochemical marker of ischemia. We aimed to search blood IMA levels in neonates with congenital heart defects.

STUDY DESIGN

 During the study period, patients diagnosed with congenital heart disease and newborns with a diagnosis of hyperbilirubinemia as a control group were included in the study. IMA level was analyzed using the IMA absorbance unit (ABSU) method.

RESULTS

 In total, 57 newborns with congenital heart disease requiring cardiac operation for the study group and 38 newborns for the control group were included. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of gender, mode of delivery, and weeks of gestation. The average IMA values in the control group were 0.19 ± 0.09 ABSU. The prepostoperative mean IMA values of the patient group were 0.22 ± 0.07 and 0.23 ± 0.07 ABSU, respectively. Comparison of the postoperative IMA with the mean of the control group was statistically significant. Preoperative and postoperative IMA values of patients who have died due to primary heart disease and surgical complications were 0.21 ± 0.07 (0.08-0.32) ABSU and 0.25 ± 0.06 (0.12-0.36) ABSU, respectively. IMA levels were not statistically different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

 Hypoxia and ischemia in congenital heart disease in the newborn period both preoperatively and postoperatively were important in prognosis. IMA was higher in the postoperative group. Many comprehensive studies are important in terms of preventing complications and decreasing mortality and morbidity by commenting on prognosis.

KEY POINTS

· IMA is a new biochemical marker of ischemia.. · In the literature, there are no reports about the relation between congenital heart defects and IM.. · The exposure of CHD patients to hypoxia/asphyxia in the preintra and postoperative periods cause neurologic deficits.

Recent advances in understanding necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a devastating intestinal disease affecting preterm infants. In spite of ongoing research and advancement in neonatal care, mortality remains high, especially in infants with advanced disease. The mechanism of disease development, the progression of intestinal injury, and management remain areas of ongoing research and controversy. In this review, we examine our current understanding of the disease, its epidemiology, the risk factors associated with the development of the disease, and its pathophysiology. We also describe current management and new emerging research highlighting potential future directions.

[Application of the Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality method in neonatal intensive care units]

The Evidence-based Practice for Improving Quality (EPIQ) method was proposed by Canadian Neonatal Network for high quality health care. The method is characterized by evidence-based, targeted, collaborative and continuous concept. At present it is applied in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This review article focuses on the application of the method in NICUs.

Impact of umbilical cord milking and pasteurized donor human milk on necrotizing enterocolitis: a retrospective review

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious complication of prematurity. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of an umbilical cord milking protocol (UCM) and pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) on NEC rates in infants less than 30 weeks gestational age from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2016. We hypothesized an incremental decrease in NEC after each intervention.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 638 infants born less than 30 weeks gestational age. Infants were grouped into three epochs: pre-UCM/pre-PDHM (Epoch 1, n = 159), post-UCM/pre-PDHM (Epoch 2, n = 133), and post-UCM/post-PDHM (Epoch 3, n = 252). The incidence of NEC, surgical NEC, and NEC/death were compared. Logistic regression was used to determine independent significance of time epoch, gestational age, birth weight, and patent ductus arteriosus for NEC, surgical NEC, and death/NEC.

RESULTS

At birth, infants in Epoch 1 were younger than Epoch 2 and 3 (26.8 weeks versus 27.3 and 27.2, respectively, P = 0.036) and smaller (910 g versus 1012 and 983, respectively, P = 0.012). Across epochs, there was a significant correlation between patent ductus arteriosus treatment and NEC rate (P < 0.001, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel). There was a significant decrease in rates of NEC, surgical NEC, and NEC/death between groups. Logistic regression showed this as significant for rates of NEC and surgical NEC between Epoch 1 and 3. Patent ductus arteriosus was a significant variable affecting the incidence of NEC, but not surgical NEC or death/NEC.

CONCLUSIONS

An umbilical cord milking protocol and pasteurized donor human milk availability was associated with decreased rates of NEC and surgical NEC. This suggests an additive effect of these interventions in preventing NEC.

Relationship Between Hemodynamically Significant Ductus Arteriosus and Ischemia-Modified Albumin in Premature Infants

Hemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) may alter organ perfusion by interfering blood flow to the tissues. Therefore, in infants with hsPDA, hypoxia occurs in many tissues. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic significance of serum (ischemia-modified albumin) IMA levels as a screening tool for hsPDA, and its relation to the severity of the disease in the preterm neonates. For this purpose, seventy-two premature infants with gestation age <34 weeks were included in the study. Thirty premature infants with hsPDA were assigned as the study group and 42 premature infants without PDA were determined as the control group. Blood samples were collected before the treatment and 24 h after the treatment, and analyzed for IMA levels. IMA levels in the study group (1.26 ± 0.36 ABSU) were found to be significantly higher than control group (0.65 ± 0.12 ABSU) (p < 0.05). In infants with hsPDA, a positive correlation was found between IMA and PDA diameter (ρ = 0.876, p = 0.022), and LA/Ao ratio (ρ = 0.863, p = 0.014). The cut-off value of IMA for hsPDA was measured as 0.78 ABSU with 88.89 % sensitivity, and 90.24 % specificity, 85.71 % positive predictive, 92.5 % negative predictive value [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.96; p < 0.001]. The mean IMA value of the infants with hsPDA before treatment was 1.26 ± 0.36 ABSU, and the mean IMA value of infants after medical treatment was 0.67 ± 0.27 ABSU (p = 0.03). We concluded that IMA can be used as a marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of a successful treatment of hsPDA.