Il-1 beta, Il-6, Il-8 and G-CSF in the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal infections.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether inflammatory cytokine concentrations (Il-1 beta, Il-6, Il-8 and G-CSF) in umbilical cord blood are useful predictors of an early-onset neonatal infection.


METHODS
240 women and their newborns were enrolled in our study and umbilical cord blood samples collected from neonates (n = 240) were subjected to ELISA for Il-1 beta, Il-6, Il-8 and G-CSF. Clinical outcome of the neonates was followed and documented. Placenta histology was also available in majority of the cases (n = 195).


RESULTS
Early-onset neonatal infection was diagnosed in 5.4% of neonates (13/240) and placental examination showed histologic chorioamnionitis in 17.9% (35/195). Both Il-1 beta and Il-6 cord blood concentrations were elevated in association with histologic chorioamnionitis (Il-1 beta-2.7 vs. 2.1 pg/ml, p < 0.05 and Il-6 15.6 vs. 12.8 pg/ml, p < 0.005). Only Il-6 was elevated (16.0 vs. 13.2 pg/ml, p < 0.05) in neonates with early-onset bacterial infections. ROC analysis showed acceptable diagnostic performance of Il-6 in the identification of acute histologic chorioamnionitis and clinical neonatal infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Il-6 in umbilical cord blood seems to be a promising predictor for early-onset neonatal infections.
Büscher
U
U
Department of Obstetrics, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany. ulrich.buescher@charite.de
Chen
F C
FC
Pitzen
A
A
Menon
R
R
Vogel
M
M
Obladen
M
M
Dudenhausen
J W
JW
D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor