Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition frequently found in very preterm infants, and its treatment remains a subject of debate. Furthermore, there are only a few studies available that have examined the impact of these treatments on the neurological outcome of the patient. Objective: To evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcome of PDA treatment on preterm infants born between 24+0 and 28+6 weeks of gestation. Methods: We conducted an observational multicentric cohort study (LIFT Cohort). We compared three groups of patients according to their PDA treatment strategy: medical treatment with ibuprofen, surgical ligation, and no treatment. The neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed with a physical examination and cognitive function evaluation at 2 years of age. A propensity score was used to reduce bias in the analysis. Results: Between 2003 and 2011, 857 infants (91.3%) were evaluated at 2 years of corrected age and included in the analysis: 248 received ibuprofen treatment (29%), 104 had PDA surgical ligation (12%), and 505 did not receive any PDA treatment (59%). Surgical ligation of PDA was significantly associated with neurodevelopmental impairment at 2 years of age (adjusted odds ratio = 2.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.4-3.4). Conclusion: We found an association between PDA surgical ligation and a nonoptimal neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age for preterm infants born before 29 weeks of gestation. These results suggest that if surgical ligation is unavoidable, particular attention should be given to the patient's neurodevelopmental follow-up.

Oxidative stress may play a central role in the onset of many diseases during the neonatal period. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a marker of lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new marker, the malondialdehyde adduct to hemoglobin (MDA-Hb), which is measured in red blood cells (RBCs) and thus does not require that an additional blood sample be drawn. In this prospective study, we first adapted the measurement method previously described to Hb solutions obtained from washed RBCs and then evaluated the suitability of the method for use in neonates. MDA-Hb concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We compared the concentrations of MDA-Hb between preterm and term neonates. Erythrocyte samples were collected at birth from 60 healthy neonates (29 full-term and 31 preterm), as well as from 50 preterm neonates with uncomplicated postnatal evolution during the first months of life. We found a significantly higher MDA-Hb concentration at birth in preterm neonates (P = 0.002). During the first months of life, MDA-Hb concentrations were 9.4 nanomol/g Hb in hospitalized preterm neonates. MDA-Hb could be used to assess oxidative stress in preterm neonates. Together with clinical variables, it could be a useful marker for oxidative stress exposition in these higher risk patients.

Preterm infants (PT) are particularly exposed to oxidative stress (OS), and a blood-sparing marker, the malondialdehyde adduct to hemoglobin (MDA-Hb), may be useful to accurately assess OS-related neonatal morbidity. In a prospective study, MDA-Hb concentrations were assessed in two groups of PT, one with and one without severe neonatal morbidity as estimated by a composite index of severe morbidity (ISM). All PT born in a single tertiary care NICU (<32 weeks and birth weight <1500 g) were consecutively included. MDA-Hb and blood glutathione (GSH) concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry during the first 6 weeks of life. Linear regressions and a multilevel model were fitted to study the relationship between MDA-Hb or GSH and ISM. Of the 83 PT (mean ± SD: 28.3 ± 2 weeks, 1089 ± 288 g), 21% presented severe neonatal morbidity. In the multivariate model, MDA-Hb concentrations were significantly higher in the ISM+ group than in the ISM– group during the first 6 weeks of life (P = 0.009). No significant difference in GSH concentrations was observed between groups (P = 0.180). MDA-Hb is a marker of interest for estimating oxidative stress in PT and could be useful to evaluate the impact of strategies to improve perinatal outcomes.