Abstract
Background To determine the influence of chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis on procalcitonin (PCT) levels in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants within the first week of life.
Design PCT serum levels were measured in cord blood 1 h after delivery and on day 3 and day 7 of life. Chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis within the first week were monitored.
Results Chorioamnionitis was present in eight of 37 patients (21.6%). PCT on day 3 was increased in both the "No chorioamnionitis" (2.54 ng mL(-1), SEM 0.51) and "Chorioamnionitis" (6.96 ng mL(-1), SEM 2.93) groups of VLBW infants compared with the 1st hour values (0.45 and 0.58 ng mL(-1) SEM 0.07 and 0.11, respectively, P < 0.001) of the same patients. The postnatal gain was higher in the "Chorioamnionitis" group (P < 0.01). Neonatal sepsis was diagnosed (after exclusion) in 12 of 32 patients (37.5%). Mean values of maximum PCT in patients with and without sepsis were 8.41 ng mL(-1) (SEM 1.87) and 3.02 ng mL(-1) (SEM 1.38), respectively (P < 0.05). Sensitivity to sepsis of PCT, ratio of immature to total neutrophils (I : T), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were 75%, 50% and 25%, respectively.
Conclusions In the group of VLBW infants the PCT level within 72 h of delivery was markedly increased in patients with chorioamnionitis. Compared with I : T and CRP, PCT appears to be a more sensitive marker of neonatal sepsis.
procalcitonin levels premature newborns chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis biomarkers very low birth weight infants, procalcitonin vs CRP sensitivity neonatal sepsis diagnosis, postnatal procalcitonin increase VLBW infants first week, chorioamnionitis effect on procalcitonin cord blood, immature to total neutrophil ratio neonatal infection markers, early onset sepsis diagnostic markers preterm infants, procalcitonin day 3 postnatal rise premature neonates, C-reactive protein vs procalcitonin sensitivity neonatal sepsis, VLBW infant infection screening biomarker comparison
PMID 11737240 11737240 DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2001.00912.x 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2001.00912.x
Keywords
C-Reactive Protein/metabolism, Calcitonin/blood, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Chorioamnionitis/blood, Female, Fetal Blood/chemistry, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature/blood, Infant, Premature, Diseases/blood, Infant, Very Low Birth Weight, Pregnancy, Protein Precursors/blood, Sepsis/blood, CALCA Protein, Human, Protein Precursors, Calcitonin, C-Reactive Protein, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide