PEDIATRICS Vol. 66 No. 2 August 1980, pp. 224-227
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mathew, O. P.
Right arrow Articles by James, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mathew, O. P.
Right arrow Articles by James, E.

CSF Lactate Levels in High Risk Neonates with and without Asphyxia

Oommen P. Mathew MD1, Harold Bland MD1, Stuart B. Boxerman DSc1, and Elizabeth James MD1

1 Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, and the Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine; the Division of Neonatology, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis; and the Departments of Child Health and Obstetrics/Gynecology, University of Missouri Medical Center, Columbia

Determination of CSF lactate levels were performed in 150 nonasphyxiated and 46 asphyxiated high risk neonates. Statistical analysis of log lactate levels of nonasphyxiated infants showed significant relationship to gestational and postnatal ages (P <.0001 and <.0002, respectively). CSF lactate elevation was seen in 16/29 infants studied within eight hours of asphyxia in contrast to 0/17 infants studied after eight hours (P <.001). Higher incidence of CSF lactate elevation was seen in term infants (7/8), infants with fetal distress (13/17), and very low Apgar scores (11/18). Seven of eight infants with markedly elevated lactate levels had both fetal distress and very low Apgar scores. CSF lactate determination in the immediate postasphyxial period appears to be an objective way of assessing the severity of cerebral hypoxia.

Submitted on August 9, 1979
Accepted on November 30, 1979