Status of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the activities of key antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase] and the level of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and controls. DESIGN: Prospective cross sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary care level II neonatal unit of teaching hospital. METHODS: Fifteen term new borns with HIE were registered for the study whereas normal term appropriate for gestational age babies were enrolled as controls. Clinical features were recorded. Activities of SOD, GPx, catalase and the content of MDA were estimated at 24 hours of age. The results obtained were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Activities of SOD and Catalase and the level of MDA were significantly higher in cases as compared to the controls. There was however no significant alternation in the activity of GPx levels in both the groups. CONCLUSION: The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes are unable to counteract the excessively generated oxidants in vivo, as is evident from the increased MDA levels. Hence, oxygen free radicals may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HIE.