Changes of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Objective To explore the clinical value of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein(H-FABP)in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Peripheral venous blood samples(4 ml each) were obtained from 35 neonates with HIE (HIE group) 1 day(acute period) and 7 days(recovery period) after birth,and from 15 normal neonates(normal control) 1 day after birth.Serum H-FABP and myocardial-specific isoenzyme of creatine kinase(CK-MB) levels were measured.Results During the acute period in HIE group,the levels of serum H-FABP and CK-MB were significantly higher than that in the normal control(P0.01).In recovery period,serum H-FABP and CK-MB dropped to normal level in slight/mid HIE neonates compared to normal control(P0.05);CK-MB also dropped to normal level in severe HIE neonates compared to normal control (P0.05);but in the severe HIE neonates the level of serum H-FABP was significantly higher than that of the normal control(P0.01).In addition,the levels of serum H-FABP varied with the severity of HIE.In acute period,the positive rates of H-FABP and CK-MB were 94.3% and 42.9% respectively,with the sensitivity of serum H-FABP being higher than that of serum CK-MB(P0.01). Conclusion H-FABP is a sensitive index of mini myocardial damage.It can be used as a test for screening myocardial damage in HIE neonates,guiding the treatment of HIE and evaluating its severity and prognosis.