Postnatal increase of procalcitonin in premature newborns is enhanced by chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis.
BACKGROUND
To determine the influence of chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis on procalcitonin (PCT) levels in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants within the first week of life.


METHODS
PCT serum levels were measured in cord blood 1 h after delivery and on day 3 and day 7 of life. Chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis within the first week were monitored.


RESULTS
Chorioamnionitis was present in eight of 37 patients (21.6%). PCT on day 3 was increased in both the "No chorioamnionitis" (2.54 ng mL(-1), SEM 0.51) and "Chorioamnionitis" (6.96 ng mL(-1), SEM 2.93) groups of VLBW infants compared with the 1st hour values (0.45 and 0.58 ng mL(-1) SEM 0.07 and 0.11, respectively, P < 0.001) of the same patients. The postnatal gain was higher in the "Chorioamnionitis" group (P < 0.01). Neonatal sepsis was diagnosed (after exclusion) in 12 of 32 patients (37.5%). Mean values of maximum PCT in patients with and without sepsis were 8.41 ng mL(-1) (SEM 1.87) and 3.02 ng mL(-1) (SEM 1.38), respectively (P < 0.05). Sensitivity to sepsis of PCT, ratio of immature to total neutrophils (I : T), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were 75%, 50% and 25%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In the group of VLBW infants the PCT level within 72 h of delivery was markedly increased in patients with chorioamnionitis. Compared with I : T and CRP, PCT appears to be a more sensitive marker of neonatal sepsis.
Janota
J
J
Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Podolske nabrezi 157, 147 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic. janjanota@yahoo.com
Stranák
Z
Z
Bĕlohlávková
S
S
Mudra
K
K
Simák
J
J
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D011247:Pregnancy; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide