The aim of the study was to investigate whether inflammatory markers are associated with the occurrence of
periventricular leukomalacia (PVL).
Superoxide (O(2) (-)) production of neutrophils and plasma antioxidative
superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in umbilical cord blood were studied. Participants were preterm infants with early PVL (n=6; three males, three females; mean
birthweight 1458g [SD 517], range 620-2040g; mean gestational age 29.8wks [SD 2.9], range 27-34wks); and preterm control infants without PVL (n=10; five males, five females; mean
birthweight 1838g [SD 664], range 925-2748g; mean gestational age 30.6wks [SD 3.1], range 26-34wks). In addition, pro-inflammatory
cytokine levels were measured in the umbilical cord blood.
N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced O(2) (-) production by neutrophils in infants with early PVL was significantly higher than that in the control group. In contrast, there was no significant difference in concentrations of
copper/
zinc-SOD and SOD activity between groups. Concentrations of
interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumour
necrosis factor-alpha (but not IL-6, IL-8, or
granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) were significantly higher in infants with early PVL than in control infants. The excess O(2) (-) produced by activated neutrophils with increased pro-inflammatory
cytokine production could play a role in the molecular cascade leading to white matter damage in PVL.