UNLABELLED: The diagnosis and evaluation of perinatal asphyxia can be problematic and objective means of assessing its severity are lacking. To study the validity of urinary uric acid as a marker of the degree of perinatal asphyxia, the ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine (UA/Cr) in urine specimens obtained after birth was measured in two groups of infants. Eighteen term infants with Apgar scores < or = 5 at 5 min and/or an umbilical cord blood pH < or = 7.2, and a base deficit > or = 12 meq/l were compared to 50 healthy controls. The severity of the perinatal asphyxia was determined by using an ASPHYXIA SCORE. The UA/Cr was higher in the asphyxiated group when compared to controls. (2.06 +/- 1.12, vs. 0.64 +/- 0.48; P < 0.001). Within the perinatal asphyxia group, a significant correlation was found between the UA/Cr ratio and the asphyxia score. (r = 0.86, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Infants with perinatal asphyxia have a significantly higher urinary UA/Cr ratio. This may be used as an indicator of the severity of perinatal asphyxia.
UNLABELLED: The diagnosis and evaluation of perinatal asphyxia can be problematic and objective means of assessing its severity are lacking. To study the validity of urinary uric acid as a marker of the degree of perinatal asphyxia, the ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine (UA/Cr) in urine specimens obtained after birth was measured in two groups of infants. Eighteen term infants with Apgar scores < or = 5 at 5 min and/or an umbilical cord blood pH < or = 7.2, and a base deficit > or = 12 meq/l were compared to 50 healthy controls. The severity of the perinatal asphyxia was determined by using an ASPHYXIA SCORE. The UA/Cr was higher in the asphyxiated group when compared to controls. (2.06 +/- 1.12, vs. 0.64 +/- 0.48; P < 0.001). Within the perinatal asphyxia group, a significant correlation was found between the UA/Cr ratio and the asphyxia score. (r = 0.86, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION:Infants with perinatal asphyxia have a significantly higher urinary UA/Cr ratio. This may be used as an indicator of the severity of perinatal asphyxia.