Plasma protein Z levels in healthy and high-risk newborn infants

• Published in: Acta pædiatrica (Oslo) Vol. 93; no. 5; pp. 654 - 657
• Main Authors: SCHETTINI, F. JR, LAFORGIA, N, ALTOMARE, M, MAUTONE, A, DEL VECCHIO, G. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01-05-2004
• Subjects: Apgar Score; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Birth Weight; Blood Proteins - analysis; Female; General aspects; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Pre-Eclampsia - complications; Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism; Pregnancy; Protein Precursors - blood; Prothrombin; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn - blood; Risk Factors; Human; Pediatrics; High risk; healthy newborns; high-risk newborns; Healthy subject; Infant; Haemostasis; Blood plasma; respiratory distress syndrome; Protein Z; Newborn; Risk factor
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1080/08035250310021064

To evaluate plasma protein Z (PZ) levels in healthy and high-risk newborn infants.
A longitudinal observational study was conducted. Inclusion criteria were: healthy term and preterm newborns normal for gestational age and newborns belonging to one of the following groups: newborns small for gestational age (SGA), newborns affected by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), newborns from mothers with pre-eclampsia. Newborns with sepsis, congenital malformation or haemorrhagic disorders were excluded. Plasma PZ levels, protein C (PC) concentration, PC activity and protein-induced vitamin K absence levels were measured.
53 newborns were enrolled into the study. PZ and PC antigen levels varied significantly among analysed subgroups on day 1 (p < 0.01): lower levels of these inhibitors were found in RDS newborns (group C), newborns from mothers affected by pre-eclampsia (group D) and SGA newborns (group E) than in healthy term and preterm newborns (groups A and B).
PZ deficiency occurs in newborns affected by severe RDS, in newborns from pre-eclamptic mothers and in SGA newborns, probably owing to activated coagulation in the first two conditions and to reduced PZ synthesis in the last condition.