The role of oxidative balance in the early diagnosis of oxidative stress-related diseases in infants born to mothers with preeclampsia

Background Preeclampsia is a major cause of preterm birth and is associated with increased oxidative stress. Alterations in oxidative-antioxidative balance may contribute to oxidative stress-related neonatal diseases in preterm infants born to mothers with preeclampsia. Objective To evaluate the oxidative and antioxidative status of preterm infants born to mothers with preeclampsia and investigate associations between oxidative stress biomarkers, particularly advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), and neonatal diseases. Methods Thirty preterm infants (<37 weeks’ gestation) requiring neonatal intensive care who were born to mothers with preeclampsia were enrolled in the preeclampsia group, and 30 gestational age-matched preterm infants born to normotensive mothers served as controls. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and AOPPs were measured in cord blood and serum samples collected on postnatal days 1, 3, and 7. Biomarker levels were compared between groups, and their associations with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were evaluated. Results RDS, NEC, and PDA were significantly more frequent in the preeclampsia group (all p < 0.05). AOPP levels were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group in cord blood and on postnatal days 1, 3, and 7 (all p < 0.001). TAS and 8-OHdG levels did not differ significantly between groups at any time point ( p > 0.05). Cord blood TOS levels were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group ( p = 0.005), whereas TOS levels on postnatal days 1, 3, and 7 did not differ significantly ( p > 0.05). No significant associations were found between serial biomarker levels and RDS, BPD, NEC, ROP, IVH, or PDA ( p > 0.05). Conclusion AOPPs may represent a potential biomarker of oxidative stress in preterm infants born to mothers with preeclampsia. Further prospective studies are needed to determine their role in the early diagnosis of oxidative stress-related neonatal diseases.