Antenatal Steroids and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Preterm Infants: Influence of Gender and Timing
Publication: Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
Volume 11, Issue Number 12
Abstract
Antenatal steroids have improved the survival of preterm infants; however, the mechanism of action is not fully understood. We aimed to establish an association between antenatal steroids and antioxidant activity and postnatal oxidative stress. In a prospective cohort study, extremely preterm neonates receiving antenatal steroids (CORT) or not (NOCORT) were enrolled. An association between antenatal steroids and activities of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione cycle enzymes in cord blood was found. In addition, reduced oxidative stress (GSH/GSSG ratio, CORT vs. NOCORT, 35.68 ± 12.20 vs. 28.38 ± 9.92; p < 0.01) and, decreased oxidation of proteins (ortho-tyrosine/phenylalanine ratio, CORT vs. NOCORT, 8.66 ± 2.45 vs. 12.55 ± 4.41; p < 0.01) and DNA (8oxodG/2dG ratio, CORT vs. NOCORT, 6.73 ± 2.18 vs. 9.53 ± 3.83; p < 0.01) also was found. Antenatal steroids were associated with reduced oxygen supplementation, mechanical ventilation, and conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intra-periventricular hemorrhage, or retinopathy of prematurity. The maximal effectiveness was when steroids were administered 2–4 days before delivery. Female preterm infants had less oxidative stress and increased antioxidant activity and better clinical outcomes than did male infants, independent of receiving or not antenatal steroids. Antenatal steroids are accompanied by a reduction in postnatal oxidative-stress–derived conditions and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Both these effects seem to be influenced by specific timing and female gender. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 11, 2945–2955.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
Volume 11 • Issue Number 12 • December 2009
Pages: 2945 - 2955
PubMed: 19645572
Copyright
Copyright 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
History
Published in print: December 2009
Published online: 4 November 2009
Published ahead of print: 28 September 2009
Published ahead of production: 31 July 2009
Accepted: 31 July 2009
Revision received: 30 July 2009
Received: 21 May 2009
Authors
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No competing financial interests exist.
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