RESUMO
Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia is a condition defined as hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and acidosis in neonate. Cellular hypoxialeads to increased excretion of uric acid. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of urine uric acid level for theidentification of kidney injury in asphyxiated newborns in first 48 h of life.Aims and objectives: The aims and objectives of this study were to evaluate the utility of urinary uric acid levels within 48 hof birth as non-invasive and early biochemical means of identifying kidney injury in birth asphyxiated neonates.Material and methods: Study design - this was a prospective observational cohort study. Settings - this study was conductedat neonatal intensive care unit in tertiary level hospital in Central India. Duration - the study duration was from July 2017 to June2018. Due to financial constraints, 100 neonates were enrolled and urine sample collected within 48 h of life was evaluated forurine uric acid level. On day 3rd of life, serum creatinine was done. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann–Whitney U-test.Results: The mean rank of urine uric acid (32.76 vs. 20.29) was significantly higher in term newborns as per asphyxia (P = 0.005). Themean rank of urine uric acid (24.13 vs. 15.46) was significantly higher in term asphyxiated as per urine output (P = 0.031). However,the mean rank of urine uric acid (23.29 vs. 16.00) was not significant in term asphyxiated newborns as per serum creatinine (P = 0.08).Conclusions: Urine uric acid = 16.10 µmole/24 h has a sensitivity (61.4%) and specificity (72.2%) for detecting asphyxia innewborns. Similarly, urine uric acid = 22.3 µmole/24 h has a sensitivity (66.7%) and specificity (91.4%) for detecting kidneyinjury in asphyxiated newborns.