Oxidative stress biomarkers in the preterm infant

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of preterm infants. Accurate assessment of OS remains an analytical challenge that has been partially addressed during the last few decades. A plethora of approaches have been developed to assess preterm biofluids to demonstrate a link postnatally with preterm OS, giving rise to a set of widely employed biomarkers. However, the vast number of different analytic methods and lack of standardization hampers reliable comparison of OS-related biomarkers. In this chapter, we discuss approaches for the study of OS in prematurity with respect to methodologic considerations, the metabolic source of different biomarkers and their role in clinical studies.

Keywords: Biomarker; Hypoxia; Intermittent hypoxia; Newborn; Oxidative stress; Oxygen; Prematurity; Preterm infant; Reactive oxygen species; Reoxygenation.