Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Tanta University Hospital,
Tanta, Egypt | Department of Clinical Pathology, Tanta University
Hospital, Tanta, Egypt
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Heba S. Elmahdy, Department of Pediatrics,
Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt. Tel.: +20 101 802 976; Fax: +20 403
335 545; E-mail: hmahdy71@yahoo.com
Abstract: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of neonatal
mortality and morbidity. Unfortunately, there are no reliable methods to detect
brain damage in these patients. The aim of this study is to investigate whether
measurement of serum levels of protein S100B and nucleated red blood cells
(NRBCs) counts in asphyxiated full-term newborns could be a useful tool for
early detection of post asphyxia brain damage. Thirty full term infants with
different grades of HIE together with twenty matched controls were enrolled in
the study. Serum samples were collected before the lapse of second hour after
birth and samples repeated in the second and third days of life for detection
of NRBCs count and level of protein S100B. Serum protein S100B and NRBCs counts
were significantly increased in HIE group versus control group
(P<0.05). In day 3, level of NRBC was not significantly
higher in HIE group versus control (P>0.05). Serum protein
S100B and NRBCs counts significantly increased in with increasing HIE severity
(P<0.05). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for
protein S100B, which was higher day 3 (96.7% and 95%, respectively). For
nucleated red blood cells, sensitivity and specificity were highest at first
day (96.6% and 100%, respectively). From the present study it is
concluded that serum protein S100B and NRBCs count are useful tools for
prediction of brain damage and the expected course of HIE patients.
Keywords: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, protein S100B, nucleated red blood cells
