Activin A and Acvr2b mRNA from Umbilical Cord Blood Are Not Reliable Markers of Mild or Moderate Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Marc Paul O'Sullivan, Niamh Denihan, Klaudia Sikora, Mikael Finder, Caroline Ahearne, Gerard Clarke, Boubou Hallberg, Geraldine B. Boylan, Deirdre M. Murray

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2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background ?Activin A protein and its receptor ACVR2B have been considered viable biomarkers for the diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This study aimed to assess umbilical cord blood (UCB) levels of Activin A and Acvr2b messenger RNA (mRNA) as early biomarkers of mild and moderate HIE and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods ?One-hundred and twenty-six infants were included in the analyses from the BiHiVE2 cohort, a multi-center study, recruited in Ireland and Sweden (2013 to 2015). UCB serum Activin A and whole blood Acvr2b mRNA were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results ?Activin A analysis included 101 infants (controls, n = 50, perinatal asphyxia, n = 28, HIE, n = 23). No differences were detected across groups (p = 0.69). No differences were detected across HIE grades (p = 0.12). Acvr2b mRNA analysis included 67 infants (controls, n = 22, perinatal asphyxia, n = 23, and HIE, n = 22), and no differences were observed across groups (p = 0.75). No differences were detected across HIE grades (p = 0.58). No differences were detected in neurodevelopmental outcome in infants followed up to 18 to 36 months in serum Activin A or in whole blood Acvr2b mRNA (p = 0.55 and p = 0.90, respectively). Conclusion ?UCB Activin A and Acvr2b mRNA are not valid biomarkers of infants with mild or moderate HIE; they are unable to distinguish infants with HIE or infants with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-267
Number of pages7
JournalNeuropediatrics
Volume52
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Activin A
  • biomarkers
  • hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
  • long-term outcome
  • neonatal encephalopathy
  • perinatal asphyxia

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