Evaluation of normal values of reactive oxygen species and total antioxidant defenses on cord blood of full-term healthy infants with a bedside method

Aim. We measured in parallel and with a bedside equipment, the reference values of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and of total antioxidant defenses (TAD) in healthy full-term infants at birth on cord blood. Type of study. Population study of consecutive patients. Patients and methods. One hundred infants with gestational age 37-42 wks without signs of fetal distress or perinatal asphyxia. ROS and TAD were measured on cord blood - together with blood gas analysis - immediately after birth with a bedside equipment (FORM plus, Callegari 1930, Italy). Results. The average time to the end of the exams was 19 min (5-55 min). After outliers' exclusion, ROS resulted meanly 117 +/- 58.2 U. F. and TAD 1.31 +/- 0.45 mmol/l Trol. eq., being the ROS' value lower and that of TAD in the same range than those of adult people. No relationship was found between cesarean and vaginal delivery and between male and female sex. Conclusion. The normal full-term infants present low values of ROS but normal values of TAD when compared to adult people. We speculate this is a defensive mechanism, a sort of preparation of the fetus to face the partial pressure of oxygen of the room-air, increased with respect to that present in the womb.