The effect of exchange transfusion on prooxidant-antioxidant balance in newborns Jaundice

Introduction: Newborns have a limited amount of antioxidant protection. Exchange transfusion may affect Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance (PAB). The present study is conducted to investigate the effect of the exchange transfusion on PAB in newborn jaundice. Methods: The present study is based on a clinical trial which is conducted at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran during 2015-2016 that involved sampling on 22 jaundiced newborns (high bilirubin of 17 mg/dL) over a course of 35 weeks. Data collection for the study questionnaire included maternal blood group, neonatal characteristics (age, sex, weight, gestational age, Apgar score, etc.), and laboratory assessment (bilirubin, hematocrit, direct and indirect Coombs testing, reticulocytes, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and PAB). The amount of PAB and serum total bilirubin (STB) of newborns before, after and 6 hours after the exchange transfusion were investigated. Data analysis was performed via statistical tests (paired t-test) using SPSS version 19. Results: The average bilirubin before the exchange transfusion was 22.02±5.80 mg/dL, after the exchange transfusion was 11.56±3.95 mg/dL, and at 6 hours after the exchange transfusion was 14.99±4.20 mg/dL. The average PAB before the exchange transfusion was 19.06±11.91 HK units, after the exchange transfusion was 29.40±17.70 HK, and at 6 hours after the exchange transfusion was 40.82±18.79 HK. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the Prooxidant-Antioxidant balance in the exchange transfusion changes in favor of prooxidants and also intensifies even up to 6 hours after the exchange transfusion.