Inflammatory mediators as predictors of outcome in perinatal asphyxia.

OBJECTIVES

To identify biomarkers for neuronal injury and outcome in perinatal asphyxia.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was done in authors' level III NICU involving 80 neonates - 40 babies with perinatal asphyxia and 40 weight and gender matched normal neonates. Levels of cytokines IL-6, IL -1β, IL-2 and TNF -α in cord blood of these neonates were estimated and correlated with the severity of asphyxia and developmental outcome at 6 mo using Baroda Developmental Score.

RESULTS

The baseline parameters revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of maternal age, parity, gestational age, gender and birth weight. The levels of cytokines IL-6 (p < 0.001) and IL-1beta (p < 0.03) were significantly higher in babies with perinatal asphyxia and correlated with the severity of asphyxia. The levels of IL-6 and IL-1β had significant negative correlation with developmental score at 6 mo. A cut off level of 14.18 pg/ml for IL-6 had 92.3 % sensitivity and 57.7 % specificity [Area under the curve = 0.80 (0.62-0.84)] for adverse neuro-developmental outcome while it was 11.17 pg/ml for IL-1β with a sensitivity of 69.2 % and specificity of 71.2 % [Area under the curve = 0.67 (0.57-0.80)].

CONCLUSIONS

IL-6 and IL-1 β are good predictive markers of severity of asphyxia and adverse neurological outcome.