Effects of mode of delivery on maternal–neonatal plasma antioxidant status and on protein S100B serum concentrations

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the effect of the mode of labour and delivery on total antioxidant status (TAS) and on the protein S100B serum concentrations in mothers and their newborns. Material and methods. Sixty women with normal pregnancies were divided into three groups: Group A (n = 20) with normal labour and vaginal delivery (VG), group B (n = 18) with prolonged labour+VG and group C (n = 22) with scheduled caesarean section (CS). Blood was obtained at the beginning of the labour process and immediately after delivery (pre‐ and post‐delivery) as well as from the umbilical cord (CB). TAS and creatine kinase (CK) were measured using commercial kits. Serum S100B levels were evaluated with the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay “ECLIA” on the ROCHE ELECSYS 2010 immunoassay analyser. Results. Post‐delivery, TAS levels were significantly decreased in group A and especially in group B. S100B levels were increased in group B (0.0712±0.02 µg/L) as compared with those of group A (0.0567±0.03 µg/L, pµg/L, pµg/L) than those in group A (0.40±0.05 µg/L pµg/L pr = −0.61, pr = 0.48, pConclusions. The increased S100B serum levels in the mothers of group B, post‐delivery, may have been due to the long‐lasting, oxidative and/or psychogenic stress. The observed remarkably high levels of S100B in the group B newborns may have been due to compressive conditions on the foetus brain during this mode of delivery.