THE VALUE OF PROCALCITONIN IN NEONATAL SEPSIS
Kocabas E, Aksaray N, Alhan E, Enc A, Alabaz D
Department of
Pediatrics, Cukurova University School of Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Objective: This study was performed to investigate
serum concentration of procalcitonin during neonatal sepsis in the first
month of life and to evaluate the usefulness of procalcitonin as a
diagnostic and prognostic test for neonatal infections. And to compare
procalcitonin with C Reactive Protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor-a (TNF-a),
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8).
Materials: 26 patients with neonatal sepsis and 29
sex, gestational age, postnatal age and weight matched healthy control
subjects were admitted to the study. Serum levels of procalcitonin, IL-6,
IL-8, (TNF-a), CRP and immature/total neutrophil ratio were measured in
early and late neonatal sepsis and single sample in healthy control
subjects.
Results: Plasma procalcitonin, CRP, IL-6, IL-8, (TNF-a)
concentrations in the patients group were significantly higher than the
control groups. There was no significant difference in the serum IL-6,
IL-8, (TNF-a) procalcitonin levels with blood culture positive patients and
clinical sepsis. With the establishment of antibiotherapy, a significant
decrease in plasma procalcitonin, IL-6, IL-8, (TNF-a), immature/matur
neutrophil ratio concentrations was observed in the survival group. However
nonsignificant decrease in plasma CRP concentration was observed in this
group. With the establishment of therapy, a significant increase in plasma
procalcitonin, IL-6, IL-8, (TNF-a), immature/matter neutrophil ratio was
observed in the nonsurvival group. Serum procalcitonin level *0.3 ng/ml and
TNF-* level *10 pg/ml had a sensitivity and specifity of up to %100 in the
diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.
Conclusion: Procalcitonin seems to be an early and
specific marker of neonatal sepsis and it is much more sensitive and
specific than CRP, IL-6, IL-8, immatur/matur neutrophil ratio to establish
neonatal sepsis.