[An immunochemical analysis of the function of the hemato-encephalic barrier in acute fetal hypoxia and asphyxia neonatorum].

The neurospecific protein alpha 1-globulin has been assayed in serum in order to evaluate the blood-brain barrier in newborns with acute intrapartum hypoxia. The study involved 35 term newborns with birth asphyxia of variable severity. The alpha 1-globulin levels correlated with severity of condition at birth, duration of intrauterine exposure to hypoxia and the presence of obstetric complications and clinical severity of cerebral circulatory disorders. A normal early adaptation and effective therapy reduced serum alpha 1-globulin levels 4-8-fold on the 3rd postnatal day and 6-16-fold on the 5th day. Deterioration of neurological symptoms was parallelled by a significant increase in protein levels (to 6400 ng/ml) at day 5. This evidence may confirm the fact that permeability of the blood-brain barrier is impaired by intrapartum hypoxia.