title: Role of tumor necrosis factor in neonatal sepsis.
abstract: In order to assess the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in neonatal sepsis, plasma TNF levels were determined by a method using L929 cells at the time of septic work-up in 67 neonates. Thirty-three patients with sepsis were found to have significantly higher TNF levels (533.33 +/- 468.74 U/ml; 1 U corresponding to 1.67 pg recombinant TNF) as compared with 34 non-sepsis patients (100.0 +/- 188.97 U/ml) and 30 healthy newborns (27.33 +/- 16.17 U/ml, P < 0.05, respectively). The upper limit of normal plasma TNF levels was 60 U/ml and the best cutoff value for predicting neonatal sepsis was 160 U/ml. This had remarkable sensitivity (88%), specificity (82%), positive predictive value (83%), and negative predictive value (88%). Plasma TNF levels were significantly associated with the occurrence of shock, organ failure, scleroma and outcome. Thus, anti-TNF antibodies might be used in protecting newborns from septic death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000097:blood; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000097:blood; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha