Interleukin-6 concentrations in neonates evaluated for sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to determine serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) during bacterial infections in the first week of life and to evaluate the usefulness of IL-6 as a diagnostic test for perinatal bacterial infections, alone and in combination with C-reactive protein (CRP).


METHODS
Blood was obtained from 241 newborn children on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and at 3 to 4 days after admission. Both samples were analyzed for IL-6, CRP, and white blood cell count with differential.


RESULTS
Twenty-four newborns were classified as having an infection. Increased serum IL-6 levels were detected in infected compared with noninfected newborns on admission (p < 0.0001). Detection of IL-6 (> or = 20 pg/ml) alone yielded a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 71%, a positive predictive value of 40%, and a negative predictive value of 93%. A combined parameter of IL-6 (> or = 50 pg/ml) and CRP (> or = 10 mg/L) yielded a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 74%, a positive predictive value of 49%, and a negative predictive value of 99%.


CONCLUSIONS
Used in combination with CRP, IL-6 seems to be a valuable parameter in the early diagnosis of neonatal infections.
Doellner
H
H
Children's Department, University Hospital of Trondheim and Institute of Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, University of Trondheim, Norway.
Arntzen
K J
KJ
Haereid
P E
PE
Aag
S
S
Austgulen
R
R
D001681:Biological Assay; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein