Cord blood myeloperoxidase in preterm infants with periventricular hyperechogenicity.

BACKGROUND Cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators are believed to play central roles in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of brain white matter lesions. To examine the relationships of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators in the cord blood of preterm infants and neonatal cerebral ultrasound periventricular hyperechogenicity (PVH), cord blood cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators were analyzed, and routine cerebral ultrasound scans were performed in all 96 premature infants. METHODS The non-PVH group consisted of 20 infants with normal cerebral ultrasound findings during the first week of life. The PVH group consisted of 20 infants with PVH during the first week of life. Cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators in cord blood including interleukin-8 (IL-8), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), P-selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecules (sVCAMs), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS There were no significant differences in IL-8, PGE2, P-selectin, and sVCAM levels between patients with and without PVH. Interestingly, MPO levels were marginally significantly higher in patients with PVH than those without PVH (7.46 +/- 3.6 vs. 4.81 +/- 3.5; p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that MPO from leukocytes may contribute to the occurrence of PVH in premature infants.