Perinatal Blood Biomarkers for the Identification of Brain Injury in Very Low Birth Weight Growth Restricted Infants

OBJECTIVE: To determine if blood biomarkers measured at delivery and shortly after birth can identify growth restricted infants at risk for developing severe brain injury. STUDY DESIGN: In a cohort of very low birth weight neonates, fetal growth restricted (FGR) (birth weight < 10%) were compared to non-FGR neonates, and within the FGR group those with brain injury were compared to those without. Biomarkers were measured in cord blood at delivery, and daily for the 1(st) 5 days of life. RESULT: FGR was associated with significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10 and lower levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). FGR and brain injury were associated with significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). CONCLUSION: Interleukins may be involved in a common pathway contributing to both the development of growth restriction and brain injury, and GFAP may help identify brain injury within this growth restricted group.