Early Neurological Marker in Perinatal Asphyxia and its Correlation with Different Stages of HIE

Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of neurologic morbidity in infants. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) after perinatal asphyxia is a condition in which serum concentration of brain specific biochemical markers may be elevated. Neuroprotective interventions in asphyxiated newborns require early indicators of brain damage to initiate therapy. There are very few studies about its usefulness in asphyxiated newborns. Aim of the present study was to determine the serum levels of Interleukin-6 in newborns with perinatal asphyxia and its relation with different stages of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. We have measured the serum values of IL-6 by ELISA method in 100 asphyxiated newborns and 100 healthy newborns (control group). Blood samples were taken on day 1 and day 3 of life in all newborns. The mean serum values of IL-6 were found to be decreased on day 3 in asphyxiated neonates and a negative correlation was seen between day 1 and 3 for IL-6. The mean values of IL-6 were decreased in different stages of HIE on day 3 as compared to day 1 and a Negative correlation was observed between day 1 and day 3 for IL6 in no HIE, HIE I, HIE II & HIE III stages. We conclude that serum IL-6 concentrations increased considerably after birth asphyxia, and the increase is associated with the severity of HIE with a poorer outcome.