Changes in plasma and urinary nitrite after birth in premature infants at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasma nitrite serves as a reservoir of nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity. Because nitrite ingestion is markedly lower in newborns than adults, we hypothesized plasma nitrite levels would be lower in newborns than in adults, and that infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disease characterized by ischemia and bacterial invasion of intestinal walls, would have lower levels of circulating nitrite in the days prior to diagnosis.

Methods

Single blood and urine samples were collected from 9 term infants and 12 adults, 72 preterm infants every 5 d for 3 wk, and from 13 lambs before and after cord occlusion.

Results

Nitrite fell 50% relative to cord levels in the first day after birth; and within 15 min after cord occlusion in lambs. Urinary nitrite

SUBMITTER: Pun P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5219926 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature