Estimation of Serum Growth Hormone and Prolactin Levels in Newborns with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic injury in the fetal and neonatal brain results in neonatal mortality, morbidity or long term sequel such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy and learning disability. In term neonates, 1-4% of infants suffer birth asphyxia and one third manifest significant neurological deficits.This study aimed to evaluate GH and PRL in full-term newborns with asphyxia and to delineate their relations to the severity of HIE. For this purpose the current study was conducted on 20 full-term hypoxic infants recruited from NICU zagazig University.The studied neonates were compared to 10 full term neonates as control group.All the studied patients were subjected to:1. Maternal history taking2. Detailed antenatal and perinatal history3. Thorough clinical examination includinga- Gestational age assessment using Ballard scoreb- Anthropometric measuresc- Full clinical examination (chest,heart,abdomen……)d- Detailed neurological examination and assessment of the grade of HIE using Sarnat and Sarnat classification4. Laboratory investigations including:a. CBCb. CRPc. ABGd. Serum GHe. Serum PRL5.C TscanOur results showed no significant difference between HI neonates and controls as regards body weight, gestational age, sex distribution and mode of delivery.Hypoxic newborns had significantly higher levels of GH and PRL as compared to controls.Our results revealed that WBCS and RBCS were not significantly different while Hb and Granulocytes were statistically higher in cases than control .Meanwhile Platelets were statistically lower in cases than control.Our results revealed that WBCs, platelets and Hb were not significantly different while means of RBCs showed significant decline with increased grading and Granulocytes means showed significant rising by increased grading.Seizures were reported in 80% of patients. Our results found that levels of GH and prolactin were not significant difference among patients who have seizures than those who didn’t need it .Among the hypoxic newborns 50% needed mechanical ventilation. Our results showed that levels of GH and prolactin had no significant difference among patients who needed mechanical ventilation than those who didn’t need it.There was a significant inverse correlation between GH and Prolactin hormone.