Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Candidate Biomarkers of Neonatal Encephalopathy Severity and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Barbara Dietrick, Eleanor Molloy, An N. Massaro, Tammy Strickland, Jie Zhu, Marie Slevin, Veronica Donoghue, Deirdre Sweetman, Lynne Kelly, Mary O'Dea, Meaghan McGowan, Gilbert Vezina, Penny Glass, Dhananjay Vaidya, Sandra Brooks, Frances Northington, Allen D. Everett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To identify candidate biomarkers in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that are associated with neonatal encephalopathy severity measured by encephalopathy grade, seizures, brain injury by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 15-30 months. Study design: A retrospective cohort study of plasma (N = 155, day of life 0-1) and CSF (n = 30, day of life 0-7) from neonates with neonatal encephalopathy and healthy neonates born at term (N = 30, ≥36 weeks of gestation) was conducted. We measured central nervous system necrosis (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], neurogranin [NRGN], tau), inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, IL-10), and trophic (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], vascular endothelial growth factor) proteins. Clinical outcomes were Sarnat scores of encephalopathy, seizures, MRI scores, and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III at 15-30 months. Results: Plasma NRGN, tau, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were greater, whereas BDNF and vascular endothelial growth factor were lower in patients with neonatal encephalopathy vs controls. In plasma, tau, GFAP, and NRGN were directly and BDNF inversely associated with encephalopathy grade. IL-6 was inversely related to seizures. Tau was directly related to MRI abnormalities. Tau was inversely associated with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III cognitive and motor outcomes. In CSF, NRGN was inversely associated with cognitive, motor, and language measures. GFAP, IL-6, and IL-10 were inversely related to cognitive and motor outcomes. IL-8 was inversely related to motor outcomes. CSF candidate biomarkers showed no significant relationships with encephalopathy grade, seizures, or MRI abnormalities. Conclusions: Plasma candidate biomarkers predicted encephalopathy severity, seizures, MRI abnormalities, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 15-30 months.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)71-79.e5
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume226
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2020

Keywords

  • brain injury
  • development
  • marker
  • neonate
  • neurology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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