Endothelin-1 and leptin as markers of intrauterine growth restriction

To explore the role of endothelin-1 [ET-1] and leptin in intrauterine growth restriction [IUGR] among preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic women. Forty patients with a pregnancy complicated by IUGR, 20 cases with severe pre-eclampsia and 20 cases non-preeclamptic were enrolled. Control group comprised 15 cases with uncomplicated pregnancy. Blood sample from umbilical artery and maternal venous blood were collected at the time of delivery for ET-1 and leptin levels. Mode of delivery, birth weight and Apgar score were recorded. The mean maternal and fetal ET-1 was significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by IUGR than in control group. The mean maternal leptin was significantly higher in preeclamptic patients when compared to nonpreeclamptic and control groups. Mean fetal leptin was significantly lower in patients than in control; however fetal leptin was corrected to fetal weight, it was insignificantly different in both groups. Maternal plasma ET-1 and leptin correlates with the degree of fetal growth restriction originating from deterioration of placental function. Maternal plasma leptin and ET-1 levels may reflect deterioration in fetal growth

Efecto del levamisol en la actividad microbicida y quimiotaxis en células polimorfonucleares / The effect of levamisol on the functions of chemotaxis and bacterial activity

Antecedentes: la septicemia neonatal puede tener una mortalidad del 20 por ciento en recién nacidos pequeños para su edad gestacional. Esta predisposición a las infecciones se ha explicado por alteraciones inmunológicas. El propósito de este trabajo es conocer el efecto del levamisol en las funciones de quimiotaxis y actividad bactericida de las células polimorfonucleares en recién nacidos pequeños para su edad gestacional. Material y método: se estudiaron 20 recién nacidos de término. Diez eran pequeños para su edad gestacional y los otros 10 tenían peso adecuado. Se midió la actividad microbicida y la quimiotaxis; se hicieron comparaciones entre los grupos con pruebas estadísticas no paraméticas. Resultados: en el grupo de neonatos pequeños para su edad gestacional la actividad microbicida fue semejante a la del grupo testigo, pero la actividad quimiotáctica estuvo disminuida (p < 0.05)

Serum IgG at birth in preterm appropriate- and small-for-gestational age newborns.

Serum IgG at birth was estimated in 31 preterm and 33 full term newborns, grouped according to their weight-for-gestational age. Preterm small-for-gestational age neonates were found to have significantly reduced IgG levels as compared to preterm appropriate-for-gestational age and full term small-for-gestational age newborns. It is suggested that preterms with intra-uterine growth retardation are most suitable for exogenous IgG supplementation to reduce neonatal and postneonatal susceptibility to infections.

Immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA levels in preterm and small for date newborns.

Forty preterm [14 small for gestational age (SGA), 26 average for gestational age (AGA)] and 40 term (10 SGA and 30 AGA) babies were tested for immunoglobulins (Ig), G, M and A levels. IgG levels increased with gestational age from 922.00 +/- 14.00 mg/dl at 34 weeks to 1827.33 +/- 184.09 mg/dl at 40 weeks. Mean immunoglobulins were lower in SGA babies. IgG was 1029.59 +/- 122.80 mg/dl in SGA preterm babies and increased to 1262.00 +/- 200.0 mg/dl in 2 kg babies. IgM and IgA although increased with higher birth weight but rise was not statistically significant. More care to avoid infections in preterm and SGA babies, with lower immunoglobulin levels and less resistance, is recommended.