High Intestinal Permeability in Low Birth Weight Infants with Perinatal Encephalopathy
Panakhova Nushaba Farkhad PhD, Huseynova Saadat Arif PhD, Alasgarova Saadat Mahammad PhD, Guliyeva Saida Alibala PhD

Abstract
The aim of this work was to estimate intestinal barrier damage, based on structural changes of the brain, in low birth weight infants with hypoxic encephalopathy. Neonates without changes on the neurosonograms were included in the group 1. Neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage on the neurosonograms comprised the group 2. Neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) comprised the group 3. In the group 2, the median I-FABP levels (6.2±1.3 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those of the groups 1 and 3 (2±0.88 ng/ml, 3.6±2.31ng/ml, respectively) within the first days of life. The I-FABP levels tended to increase until the 7th-10th day of life. High levels of LBP (45.24±1.4ng/ml) in the 7th-10th day of life were found in infants in the group 3. This difference was significant compared to the levels found in the other groups (p< 0,05). Infants with perinatal hypoxic brain injury have different features of intestinal barrier damage. High serum concentrations of I-FABP in the group 2 might indicate ischemic changes of the gut wall in infants with IVH. Increases in LBP levels in newborns with PVL demonstrate the inflammatory character of gut injury.

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