title: Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule and C-reactive protein as early markers of infection in newborns.
abstract: In order to find a reliable early marker of infection in newborns a study with simultaneous determination of soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) was planned. Prospectively 90 babies < 5 days of age suspect of infection were included. Retrospectively this population was classified into an "infected" group (n = 45) and a "non-infected" group (n = 45). For each of these two groups we calculated the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of sICAM-1 and CRP as early markers of infection. We determined the best cut-off level for sICAM-1 to be 300 micrograms/l and for CRP 5 mg/l. As a biochemical test for infection in the newborns the sensitivity and negative predictive value for CRP were 0.69 and 0.73 respectively. When sICAM-1 was added and CRP and s-ICAM-1 were used in combination the sensitivity improved significantly to 0.93, p < 0.01 and the negative predictive value improved to 0.92, p < 0.05. In normal 5-8 days old babies' sICAM-1 was significantly higher than at birth (cord blood), p < 0.0001. In conclusion, sICAM-1 and CRP in combination are better than CRP as a primary test for identification of infection in babies < 5 days of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Holbaek Central Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Staun-Olsen
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein