Abstract:Objective To investigate the serum high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) level and its relationship with inflammatory factors and nerve damage in neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in order to explore the clinical significance of HMGB1 in HIE. Methods From January 2008 to December 2018, 120 HIE newborns were selected as HIE group and 120 healthy newborns were selected as controlgroup in the Department of Pediatrics of Ningbo Yinzhou People’s Hospital and Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University medical school. HIE newborns were classified into mild 61 cases, moderate 39 cases and severe 20 cases accorded to their severity. The serum HMGB1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B levels were measured. Results The levels of serum HMGB1, IL-6, TNF-α, NSE and S100B in HIE group were higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The levels of serum HMGB1, IL-6, TNF-α, NSE and S100B in patients with different severity of HIE were statistically significant (P < 0.05), the levels of serum HMGB1, IL-6, TNF-α, NSE and S100B in patients with moderate and severe HIE were higher than those of mild patients(P < 0.05), and the serum HMGB1, IL-6, TNF-α, NSE and S100B levels in patients with severe HIE were higher than those of moderate patients (P < 0.05). The serum HMGB1 in patients with HIE were positively correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.523), TNF-α (r = 0.602), NSE (r = 0.497) and S100B (r = 0.525) (all P < 0.05). Conclusion The serum HMGB1 level is elevated in HIE neonates, and serum HMGB1 level is closely related to severity of disease, inflammat ory factor levels and nerve damage.