The relation between delivery type and tau protein levels in cord blood.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The perinatal morbidity risk is higher in operative deliveries than normal vaginal deliveries. 'Tau protein' is a cytoskeletal component that is predominantly expressed in axons of neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate whether delivery type, particularly the forceps application, had any effect on cord blood tau levels.

METHODS:

Ninety babies born in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Ankara Etlik Maternity and Women's Health Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey were involved in the study. The babies were divided into three groups according to delivery type: Group 1: normal vaginal delivery (NVD); Group 2: caesarean section; Group 3: forceps application. Cord blood samples were drawn from umbilical veins of the babies soon after the birth.

RESULTS:

The cord blood tau protein levels in the caesarean section group (79 pg/mL [45-223]) were found to be significantly lower than those of NVD (135 pg/mL [44-627]) and forceps (175 pg/mL [17-418]) groups (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

We have shown that forceps applications uncomplicated with perinatal asphyxia did not affect the cord blood tau protein level significantly. Tau levels in caesarean section group were significantly lower than the other two groups. Caesarean section in this manner might be considered especially in conditions of risk of perinatal asphyxia to avoid hypoxia.

• Authors: Turan Tunc, Abdulbaki Karaoglu, Tuncer Cayci, Erkan Demirkaya, Mustafa Kul, Halil Yaman, Sinan Karadeniz, Tayfun Gungor, Faruk Alpay
• Journal: Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society (Pediatr Int) Vol. 52 Issue 6 Pg. 872-5 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1442-200X [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 21166947 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2010 The Authors. Pediatrics International © 2010 Japan Pediatric Society.

Chemical References

• tau Proteins

Topics

• Asphyxia Neonatorum (blood, prevention & control)
• Cesarean Section
• Extraction, Obstetrical
• Female
• Fetal Blood (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain (blood, prevention & control)
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Obstetrical Forceps
• Pregnancy
• Prognosis
• Reference Values
• Turkey
• tau Proteins (blood)