Neonatal neuron specific enolase, a sensitive biochemical marker of neuronal damage, is increased in preeclampsia: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia leads to chronic intrauterine hypoxia by interfering with placental blood supply. We aimed to investigate whether preeclampsia exposure has an influence on central nervous system of infants, as evaluated by analyzing neonatal serum neuron specific enolase (NSE).

METHODS

This was a retrospective study including infants born in Nanfang hospital between Jan 2018 and Feb 2019 without asphyxia. They were divided into normotensive control group and preeclampsia group to compare the NSE levels. Furthermore, PE group was divided into five subgroups by lipstick of urine protein from 0 to 4+ to examine the relationship between urine protein and neonatal NSE.

RESULTS

Of the 86 selected neonates, there were 40 in control group and 46 in preeclampsia group. The NSE levels were significantly higher in infants with preeclampsia exposure compared to those infants in control group (45.504 ± 17.926 vs 30.690 ± 4.475, P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analyses revealed that the preeclampsia (β coef = 0.394, p = 0.041), 4+ proteinuria (β coef = 0.558, p < 0.0001) and 3+ proteinuria (β coef = 0.356, p = 0.005) were significant independent variables predicting elevated serum NSE concentration.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, this research has suggested the increase of neonatal NSE in preeclampsia, and the quantity of maternal proteinuria may be able to predict neonatal NSE elevation. Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up and targeted preventive strategies are advised for this underrecognized high-risk population.