title: [Interleukin-6, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and the immature to total neutrophil ratio (I/T) in the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis in low birth weight neonates].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of early-onset neonatal sepsis on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels in cord blood. To evaluate the significance of usually used infection markers--C-reactive protein (CRP) and immature to total neutrophil ratio (I/T)--and new markers (PCT, IL-6) for the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum levels of IL-6 and PCT were measured in cord blood in 37 low birht weight infants less than 35 week of gestation born in our institute. IL-6 and PCT levels were further evaluated together with CRP and I/T in neonatal blood within 2 hours after delivery. Neonatal sepsis within the first 72 hours of life was monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in mean values of CRP, I/T, IL-6, and PCT between "sepsis proven" and "sepsis not proven" groups were not statistically significant. Only the difference between groups in cord blood PCT was of borderline significance (p = 0.06, higher in "sepsis proven" group). Fisher test showed significant dependence on sepsis in cord blood PCT only (cut-off point 0.4 ng/ml, p < or = 0.05). Other parameters did not show significant dependence on sepsis. Sensitivity for early onset sepsis above 50% was found in cord blood PCT only (sensitivity 60%, specificity 85.2%). PCT predictive accuracy for sepsis expressed as AUC value was 0.74 +/- 0.06.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The only relatively sensitive marker and moderate predictor of early-onset sepsis in premature low birthweight infant was in our study cord blood PCT.
authors.affiliation: Ustav pro péci o matku a dítĕ, Praha.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janota
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stranák
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bĕlohlávková
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000145:classification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide