Abstract

AIM To indicate the extent of lipid peroxidation induced by oxidative stress, by measuring aldehyde end products in biological samples.

METHODS A highly specific gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was used to measure plasma concentrations of aliphatic aldehydes within the first week of life in 13 premature infants who subsequently developed chronic lung disease (CLD) and 11 infants without CLD (non-CLD). The oxime-tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of aldehydes were analysed using 2,2,6,6-d₄-cyclohexanone as the internal standard.

RESULTS All of the aldehydes measured were raised in those infants with CLD compared with non-CLD infants. Plasma concentrations of heptanal, 2-nonenal, and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) were significantly increased in CLD infants on the day of birth, while the differences in all aldehydes between the two groups were not significant at 4–6 days of age. Logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in these three aldehydes within the first 24 hours of life independently showed significant associations with the development of CLD. In particular, an HNE concentration of ⩾ 200 nM on day 0 was the best predictor for the early detection of CLD (odds ratio = 32.0), followed by a 2-nonenal concentration of ⩾ 150 nM (odds ratio = 16.0).

CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that lipid peroxidation may have a role in the pathogenesis of neonatal CLD.