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Review
. 2022 Sep-Oct;98(5):455-462.
doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2021.11.008. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Neonatal diseases and oxidative stress in premature infants: an integrative review

Versiéri Oliveira de Almeida  1 , Renan Augusto Pereira  2 , Sérgio Luís Amantéa  2 , Cláudia Ramos Rhoden  3 , Maurício Obal Colvero  2
Affiliations
Review

Neonatal diseases and oxidative stress in premature infants: an integrative review

Versiéri Oliveira de Almeida et al. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2022 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the relationship of oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in cord blood of premature newborns and the prognosis of diseases in the neonatal period.

Sources: This study consists of an integrative review. Searches were conducted in electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline/Lilacs through the Virtual Library on Health Issues, using the descriptors: "premature infants", "preterm infants", "preterm birth", "preterm", "oxidative stress", "antioxidants", "infant, premature, diseases" and "cord blood". Original articles published between 2016 and 2021 in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, which analyzed oxidative stress and/or antioxidant levels through cord blood of premature newborns and evaluated clinical outcomes, were included.

Summary of the findings: Of the 1,003 studies reviewed, after exclusion of duplicate articles, analysis of titles, abstracts, and full texts, 18 articles were included. 72.2% (n = 13) of analyzed studies reported a positive association between oxidative stress and the development of prematurity-related diseases; 27.7% (n = 5) showed no significant relation. Outcomes that showed a positive association were: intrauterine growth restriction, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, fetal inflammatory response syndrome, early-onset neonatal sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity, morbidity, and mortality.

Conclusion: The analysis of oxidative stress and antioxidants in cord blood of premature newborns may be useful in the prognosis of some pathologies. The consequences of oxidative damage are known to be associated with increased morbidity in the short and long term. Further investigation is needed in this population in order to define normality parameters of biomarkers, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Cord blood; Diseases; Infant, premature; Oxidative stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study selection process for the integrative review on oxidative stress in premature newborns.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Supplementary concepts