Abstract: Abstract: Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of urinary interleukin-18 (IL-18) and serum high mobility group protein-1 (HMGB1) in acute renal injury after neonatal asphyxia. Methods A total of 128 asphyxiated newborns (80 cases in mild asphyxia group and 48 cases in severe asphyxia group) hospitalized in our hospital from June 2015 to December 2017 were selected as the study group. According to the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) within one week after birth, they were divided into acute kidney injury group (AKI group, 56 cases) and non-acute kidney injury group (non AKI group, 72 cases). At the same time，64 healthy newborns were selected as control group. The levels of urinary IL-18, serum HMGB1, creatinine (Scr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured within 24 hours after birth. The diagnostic value of urinary IL-18 and HMGB1 for AKI after neonatal asphyxia were evaluated by using receiver operating curve (ROC). Results The levels of urinary IL-18, serum HMGB1, Scr and BUN were significantly higher in mild asphyxia group and severe asphyxia group than those in control group (P＜0.05). The levels of urinary IL-18, serum HMGB1, Scr and BUN were significantly lower in mild asphyxia group than those in severe asphyxia group (P＜0.05). The levels of urinary IL-18, serum HMGB1, Scr and BUN were significantly higher in AKI group than those in non-AKI group (P＜0.05). The urinary IL-18 and serum HMGB1 were positively correlated with Scr and BUN (P＜0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the diagnostic value of urinary IL-18 and serum HMGB1 were superior to serum Scr and BUN for AKI after neonatal asphyxia. Conclusion Urinary IL-18 and serum HMGB1 can be used as a marker for the early diagnosis of AKI after neonatal asphyxia.

Key words: asphyxia neonatorum, interleukin-18, HMGB1 protein, acute kidney injury