An observational study in Neonatal Respiratory Distress and Lung Ultrasound Score, sponsored by Tanta University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged Up to 2 Hours. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-09.
Sponsored by Tanta University · Observational
The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of point-of-care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) and serum ANGPL4 levels for predicting NICU admission needs in late preterm and full-term neonates with respiratory distress shortly after birth in the transition period.
Given its concordance with conventional x-ray, lung ultrasound (LU) has become an attractive diagnostic tool in neonatal settings, with its validation against a wide range of imaging techniques and excellent inter-observer agreement. LU is currently used for diagnosing several neonatal respiratory morbidities and has been proposed for predicting further interventions, such as the need for surfactant treatment or mechanical ventilation in preterm infants. The routine adoption of point-of-care LU in the NICU is still experiencing some limitations. However, the implementation of routine LU in the NICU would further optimize the management of newborns with, or at risk of, respiratory morbidities. Lung ultrasound alone may not be sufficient to fully assess the severity and prognosis of neonatal respiratory distress, so it is particularly important to explore the combined use of other biomarkers. In this area, angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) has gradually attracted attention. ANGPTL4, first discovered in 2000 as a member of the angiopoietin-like protein subfamily, whose expression can be prominently induced under ischemic and hypoxic conditions, participating in various physiological effects, including lipid metabolism, wound healing, and vascular injury.Therefore, serum ANGPTL4 may be an underlying biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
80 late preterm and term neonates with clinical evidence of respiratory distress soon after birth, at the NICU, Pediatrics Department, Tanta University Hospitals
This study will include 80 late preterm and term neonates (≥34 gestional weeks) who will show any clinical signs of respiratory distress in the delivery room or within 30 minutes after birth.
The exclusion criteria:
neonates admitted to the NICU
Device: Point of care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) · Diagnostic Test: Serum ANGPTL4
neonates not admitted to the NICU
Device: Point of care lung ultrasound (POC-LUS) · Diagnostic Test: Serum ANGPTL4
It will be done whithin 2 hours after birth in the transition nursery area and will be recorded as per-validated LUS scoring system: each lung will be divided into 3 areas (upper anterior, lower anterior and lateral). For each lung area, a 0-3 point score will be given. The total score would be 0-18. A maximum score of 18 is the top denomination score for this study.
Samples will be withdrawn wthin the first 2 hours after birth, just after finishing the POC-LUS evaluation
NICU admission
Need for NICU admission among late-preterm and term neonates presenting with respiratory distress during the early transitional period after birth. The decision for NICU admission will be made independently by the treating clinical team according to clinical criteria and standards of care, blinded to the research measurements of lung ultrasound score and serum ANGPTL4 level.
Time frame: Within the first 2 hours after birth
Duration of respiratory support
Time needed on respiratory support in days
Time frame: From NICU admission till discontinuation of respiratory support up to 14 days
Length of NICU stay
Number of days from NICU admission until discharge or death
Time frame: From NICU admission until discharge or death up to 21 days
This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Tanta University