Abstract
Oxygen radicals created by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system might play a role in development of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). To test whether or not babies at risk for developing ROP have elevated hypoxanthine levels in their eyes, vitreous honour was analyzed post mortem for hypoxanthine in 13 premature babies who died of RDS. As controls serve seven newborn babies dying acutely from cardiac or pulmonary failure. HX was measured both with a pO2 and a HPLC method and high correlation between the methods was found. RDS babies required treatment with 100 % O2 33 ± 30.9 hours compared with 4.75 ± 12.0 hours in controls (p < 0.001). RDS babies experienced paO2 < 5.3 kPa 15.2 ± 10.5 hours versus 0.96 ± 1.2 hours in controls (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between HX concentration in vitreous humour and duration of paO2 < 5.3 kPa (r= +0.59, p < .012, n = 19). RDS babies had more than eight times higher HX concentrations than controls, 459 ± 171 micromoles/1 versus 54 ± 71 micromoles/l (p < 0.001). Since the combination of 02 and HX is necessary for the production of oxygen radicals by the hypoxanthine - xanthine oxidase system these data demonstrate that babies with RDS who are treated with higji concentrations of O2 and have high concentrations of HX in their eyes, might produce large quantities of oxygen radicals in their eyes. This might play a role for development of ROP.
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Saugstad, O., Rognum, T. HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF HYPOXANTHINE (HX) IN VITREOUS HUMOUR OF BABIES WITH RDS. A PATHOGENIC FACTOR IN DEVELOPING ROP?. Pediatr Res 22, 225 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00072
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00072