GCMS used to identify perinatal asphyxia biomarkers

Scientists have used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) to find biomarkers for one of the biggest causes of brain injuries in young infants.

Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle harnessed 2D gas chromatography–time-of-flight-mass spectrometry specifically to identify reliable biomarkers that can help forecast the severity and timing of perinatal asphyxia.

Published in the Journal of Chromatography, the study saw the team combine this type of GCMS with a number of chemometric data analysis approaches for metabolomic analysis.

This helped the scientists find significant metabolites found to be impacted by birth asphyxia. Lactate and creatinine were confirmed as asphyxia markers, while new metabolites such as malate, succinic acid and arachidonic acid were pinpointed as being possible biomarkers.

"Further study is needed to correlate these metabolites with severity of disease, and response to treatment," the researchers said in their report.

Severe perinatal asphyxia is believed to affect six in 1,000 live births in developed countries, according to the findings of a 1985 research project detailed in the journal Early Human Development.