title: Value of measurement of neutrophil elastase-alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor levels in the early diagnosis of neonatal infection.
abstract: In a case-control study in 398 neonates the value of measuring the levels of neutrophil elastase-alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor (EPI) for early diagnosis of neonatal infection was studied in comparison to the commonly used parameters of leukocyte count, ratio of immature to total granulocytes and C-reactive protein levels. Investigations were performed on day 1 or day 6 of life. On the basis of the clinical findings patients were allocated to one of the three following groups: healthy neonates (group A), neonates with local infections such as pneumonia or skin infection (group B) or neonates with septicemia as demonstrated by a positive blood culture (group C). The median EPI levels (with range) measured on day 1 were: group A 40 (15-65) micrograms/l, group B 120 (80-260) micrograms/l, group C225 (140-355) micrograms/l. The levels on day 6 were: group A 27.5 (5-55) micrograms/l, group B 105 (65-370) micrograms/l, group C 182.5 (74-450) micrograms/l. EPI thus discriminated well between healthy neonates and neonates with infection, but not between neonates with infection and neonates with septicemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Salzer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pollak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herkner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weninger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schemper
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015843:Serpins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein