Estimation Of Endothelial Function In Preterm Infants With Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The aim of the present study was to estimate vasoregulator and intercellular adhesion functions of vascular endothelium and apoptosis processes in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. The research has been performed on 54 newborns weighing less than 1,500 grams. A control group included 28 healthy children and a main group included 26 newborns with RDS. Vasodilator NO concentrations and the main source of its synthesis – eNOS activity were observed to decrease, while no change in the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 level occurred in the main group. The level of apoptosis marker – Caspasae-9 index decreased significantly, whereas the level of intercellular adhesion molecule - sICAM-1 increased approximately twice in early days of the neonatal period as well as at the end of early neonatal period in peripheral blood of infants with RDS. According to the results, a decrease in the apoptosis rate occurred in the cases of the persistent vasoconstriction and hypoxic inflammation.