Oxidative Stress Levels and Dynamic Thiol-Disulfide Balance in Preterm Newborns with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the oxidative stress (OS) levels and dynamic thiol-disulfide balance in preterm newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Methods: This prospective study included newborns separated into 2 groups, those with BPD (case) or without BPD (control). The 2 groups were compared by clinical and laboratory findings. The OS parameters total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), OS index (OSI), native thiol (NT), and total thiol were measured within the first day after birth. Oxygen requirements were measured using the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) recorded in the first hour after birth/admission and the average FIO2 within 28 days of the birth.

Results: Infants diagnosed with BPD had a significantly lower gestational age and birth weight and a lower 5-min Apgar score (P < .05). Infants with BPD also had a higher rate of respiratory distress syndrome, rate of use of surfactant therapy, duration of ventilation therapy, and duration of hospital stay compared with control (P = .001, P = .001, P = .001, and P = .001, respectively). Plasma TAS and NT levels of newborns with BPD were significantly lower than newborns without BPD (P < .05). In the BPD group, plasma TOS and OSI levels were significantly higher than in the control group.

Conclusion: We found that OS was increased in newborns with BPD. The clinical significance of this study will provide the clinician with a different perspective on BPD by determining the dynamic thiol disulfide balance.