• J Janota, Z Stranák, and S Bĕlohlávková.
• Ustav pro péci o matku a dítĕ, Praha.
• Ceska Gynekol. 2000 Dec 1;65 Suppl 1:29-33.

ObjectiveTo determine the influence of early-onset neonatal sepsis on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels in cord blood. To evaluate the significance of usually used infection markers--C-reactive protein (CRP) and immature to total neutrophil ratio (I/T)--and new markers (PCT, IL-6) for the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis.DesignProspective clinical study.SettingInstitute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague.MethodsThe serum levels of IL-6 and PCT were measured in cord blood in 37 low birht weight infants less than 35 week of gestation born in our institute. IL-6 and PCT levels were further evaluated together with CRP and I/T in neonatal blood within 2 hours after delivery. Neonatal sepsis within the first 72 hours of life was monitored.ResultsDifferences in mean values of CRP, I/T, IL-6, and PCT between "sepsis proven" and "sepsis not proven" groups were not statistically significant. Only the difference between groups in cord blood PCT was of borderline significance (p = 0.06, higher in "sepsis proven" group). Fisher test showed significant dependence on sepsis in cord blood PCT only (cut-off point 0.4 ng/ml, p < or = 0.05). Other parameters did not show significant dependence on sepsis. Sensitivity for early onset sepsis above 50% was found in cord blood PCT only (sensitivity 60%, specificity 85.2%). PCT predictive accuracy for sepsis expressed as AUC value was 0.74 +/- 0.06.ConclusionThe only relatively sensitive marker and moderate predictor of early-onset sepsis in premature low birthweight infant was in our study cord blood PCT.

25 keywords...

hide…