ORIGINAL: Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic Antioxidants as Related to Immediate Hospital Outcomes in Term Nigerian Babies with Perinatal Asphyxia

West Afr J Med. July 2025; 42(7): 552-558 PMID: 41370332

Abstract

Background and objectives: Antioxidants are often released to neutralise free radicals and oxidants generated in babies with perinatal asphyxia (PA). This study aims to determine the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in babies with PA and the relationship between these antioxidants and hospital outcome at the Wesley Guild Hospital (WGH), Ilesa, Nigeria.

Methods: Consecutive term babies with or without asphyxia (defined as 5th minute Apgar score <7) were consecutively recruited into a comparative cross-sectional study at the labour ward of the WGH over a nine-month period. Babies were appropriately managed and outcome of hospitalisation documented. Five ml of cord blood was collected from the babies and analysed for enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants using chromatography methods (Water Incorporate, California, U.S.A). Data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 21.

Results: A total of 168 babies (84 for each group) were recruited with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Sixty-one (72.6%), 23 (27.4%) had moderate and severe PA respectively. Cord blood antioxidants were lower in babies with PA. The enzymatic [glutathione peroxidase r = -0.298, p=0.006, glutathione transferase r=-0.222, p=0.042] and non-enzymatic [TAS, r=-0.316, p=0.003] antioxidants showed negative correlation with the length of hospitalization. However, no significant relationship was observed between the antioxidants and severity of asphyxia, as well as mortality among babies with PA.

Conclusion: Low cord blood antioxidants (TAS and glutathione enzymes) may be useful indicators of increased length of hospital stay in Nigerian term babies admitted with PA.