Abstract
Perinatal asphyxia is thought to damage the “hypothalamus-hypophysis axis” (J. Pediatr. 96:397, 1980) and found to increase PRL in the cord serum (Horm. Res. 25:125, 1987).
We investigated the serum levels of PRL and hGH 2-4 h after birth in 28 fullterm (FT) and 15 preterm (PT) infants with perinatal distress, and in 20 FT and 15 PT normal infants. PRL and hGH were correlated to the severity of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).
PRL and hGH were assayed in duplicate by IRMA.
Results: The mean PRL value ± SD in the asphyctic FT newborns was 189.9 ± 46.6, whereas in the control it was 117.4 ± 46.9 (t=5.30, p < 0.0005). The PRL in the asphyctic PT newborns was 166.4 ± 59.3, and in the control 94.1 ± 46.0 (t=3.43, p ≤ 0.005). In the FT newborns a significant difference was maintained at 24 h (t=2.38, p ≤ 0.025) and 48 h (t=2.95, p ≤ 0.005), but not at 96 h. The hGH in the asphyctic FT newborns was 49.6 ± 36.2 after birth, and in the control 23.3 ± 15.6 (t=2.66, p ≤ 0.001). In the asphyctic PT infants it was 63.5 ± 37.8, whereas in the control it was 29.1 ± 13.2 (t=3.03, p ≤ 0.005). There was no significant difference at 24, 48 and 96 h in the hGH between asphyctic and normal FT and PT newborns. The increased levels of PRL and hGH were observed in all three degrees of HIE.
Conclusion: Perinatal asphyxia increases the PRL and hGH levels in FT and PT newborns. The differences are not significant on the fifth day of life for PRL and 24 h after birth for hGH.
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Varvarigou, A., Makri, M., Frimas, C. et al. PROLACTIN (PRL) AND GROWTH HORMONE (hGH) IN PERINATAL ASPHYXIA. Pediatr Res 32, 630 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00152
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00152