Background: Although wellknown in various reperfusion injuries, complement system activation has not been investigated in newborns after birth asphyxia.

Patients: Group 1: 12 newborns (31-41 weeks of gestation; median 38.5) with severe birth asphyxia (ph < 7.10 in umbilical artery, base excess > -10 measured 30 minutes after birth and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grade I-III). Group II: 12 healthy newborns with same gestational age and pH > 7.20 in umbilical artery.

Measurements: 24 hours after birth the kinetic determination of the whole complement system was performed as a function test. Concentrations of C1q and factor B were determined by radial immundiffusion and of C3a and C5a by a specific ELISA.

Results: Differences between the two groups were significant except for C3a (Mann-Whitney U test; mean ± SD).Table

Table 1
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Conclusions: Classical and alternative complement activation occurs following birth asphyxia. This mechanism may contribute to the metabolic changes in tissue and may have therapeutic implications.