Clinical significance of the combined detection of serum prealbumin and neuron-specific enolase in the diagnosis of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical significance of the combined detection of serum prealbumin(PA) and neuron-specific enolase(NSE) in the diagnosis of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).

MethodsA total of 45 neonates with HIE(including mild HIE 21 cases, moderate HIE 19 cases and severe HIE 5 cases) and 24 normal neonates were divided into the observation group and control group, respectively.The serum level of PA and NSE in observation group were detected, and the differences of which among three degrees HIE neonates were compared.

ResultsAfter 1 and 3 d of birth, the differences of the serum level of PA in neonates with HIE were statistically significant(P < 0.01), with the increasing of HIE degree, the level of PA gradually decreased(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and the level of PA in three degrees HIE patients were lower than that in control group(P < 0.01).After 10 d of birth, the level of PA in three degrees HIE patients were lower than that in control group(P < 0.01), and the differences of the PA level between severe HIE patients and mild HIE, moderate HIE patients were not statistically significant(P > 0.05).After 1, 3 and 10 d of birth, the difference of the serum level of NSE in neonates with HIE was significant(P < 0.01), the difference of the serum level of NSE between mild HIE patient and control group was not statistically significant(P > 0.05), the serum level of NSE in mild and moderate HIE patients were higher than that in control group(P < 0.01), and the serum level of NSE in severe HIE patients was higher than that in moderate group(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsWith the increasing of HIE degree of neonates, the serum level of PA gradually decreases, and the serum level of NSE gradually increases.The serum level of PA and NSE can be used for predicting and diagnosing HIE, and judging the prognosis and severity of disease.