The Urinary Uric Acid / Cr ratio as a marker of morbidity and mortality of preterm infants: a case—control study

Abstract

Abstract Background Perinatal asphyxia is one of the main causes of preterm infant mortality. Some studies have shown that The Urinary Uric Acid / Cr (UUA/Cr) ratio may be used as an additional marker for perinatal asphyxia.This study intend to investigate the relationship of this ratio with outcomes of preterm infants admitted to NICU. Methods This case–control study was carried on 102 preterm newborn infants with gestational age of 30 weeks to 33 weeks and 6 days admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit.The case group, consisted of 51 premature neonates with a history of intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation and Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) at birth, were compared with 51 matched neonates. The UUA/Cr ratio was measured in the first 24 h after birth. Complications during hospitalization, duration of hospitalization, and final outcome were evaluated. Results The mean level of UUA/Cr ratio in case and control group were 5.4 ± 4.1 and 3.6 9 ± 2.9 respectively and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.014). The UUA/Cr ratio were significantly higher in females, cesarean section delivery, Apgar score ≥ 8, neonates without any complication and neonates with less than 10 days of hospitalization. However, this ratio has no predictive value for the incidence of complications during hospitalization and long-term hospital stay for infants of the case group. Conclusions The Urinary Uric Acid / Cr ratio in the first 24 h after birth in preterm neonates who underwent intubation, NCPAP or cardiopulmonary resuscitation was higher than healthy neonates.