Brain damage and enzyme activity following birth asphyxia

Identification of newborns with brain damage following birth asphyxia should enable neuroprotective interventions and limit the extent of injury.This study aimed to show the early postnatal dynamics of the catalytic activity of creatine-kinase brain isoenzyme (CK-BB) in serum of the full-term newborns and its value as predictor of the severity of brain damage (Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, HIE). Material: newborns born at the Gyn&Obs; Clinic in Skopje, Macedonia investigated by clinical, biochemical and statistical methods. Results: 92/5494 full term newborns met the eligible criteria, survived birth asphyxia. Performing clinical-neurological Sarnat&Sarnat; classification, 18.5% newborns had no signs of HIE, and 81.5% had some level of HIE. The values of the catalytic activity of CK-BB had specific course in all three intervals between the control and investigated group (p