Text Box: INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN NEONATAL SEPSIS MOHEI-ELDEEN, Z. M*, HASHEM, E.A, ZAKHARY, M.M. and ELTAYEB, A.A. * Dept.of Pediatrics, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt Objectives: To investigate the role of oxidative stress and its relation to inflammatory cytokines in neonatal sepsis. Method: 43 newborn infants with neonatal sepsis, admitted to the neonatology unit, Assiut University Hospital, (29 full term and 14 preterm, with ¡á / ¡â ratio of 27 / 16) were included in the study. Early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) was in 27 and Late onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) was in 16 neonates. Another 19 normal neonates of matchable age were considered as control (with ¡á / ¡â ratio of 12/7, 10 full term and 9 preterm). Serum levels of C.R.P., IL6, IL8, NO, LPER, SOD, complete blood picture and arterial blood gases were estimated for all the included neonates on admission. Blood culture was done for diseased neonates only. Meningitis was diagnosed in 11.1%, pneumonia in 34.8%, diarrhea with D.I.C. in 22.1% and umbilical sepsis in 51.1%. Results: Blood culture for bacterial growth was positive in 51.1% of cases. The serum level of each of C.R.P., IL6, IL8, NO, LPER and percentage of band cells were significantly higher among the diseased neonates on comparison to control (P<0.005 for each). Meanwhile, the mean values of arterial blood pH and SOD were significantly reduced among the septicemic neonates in comparison to control (P<0.005 for each). Regarding the effect of gestational age on the studied parameters, it was noticed that the mean values of C.R.P., IL6, IL8, NO, LPER and percentage of band cells were significantly higher in full term diseased neonates as well as in preterm diseased ones in comparison to their values among the partners of control group (P<0.005 for each). On the other hand, the arterial blood pH and SOD showed significant decline among each of the full term and preterm diseased newborns in comparison to their comparable control group. The values of NO, LPER and percentage of band cells were significantly higher among neonates with EONS than those of LONS (P<0.05 for each). The serum level of SOD was significantly reduced in neonates with EONS in comparison to its value in neonates with LONS (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in all the studied parameters in relation to the type of bacterial organism. Significant +ve correlations were detected between each of IL6, IL8 and NO in diseased neonates, while significant ¨Cve correlations were observed between each of IL6, IL8 and SOD in septicemic neonates. IL6 and IL8 showed 100 % specificity and sensitivity for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: Oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines appeared to have a role in the development of neonatal sepsis. IL6 and IL8 could be considered as good indicators for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. 1171