title: Early high C-reactive protein in infants with open abdominal wall defects does not predict sepsis or adverse outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study CRP values and relate it to outcome in infants with antenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis, exomphalos and other surgical conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over five years, infants admitted to our neonatal unit with gastroschisis, exomphalos and other surgical diagnoses were identified. Serum CRP measurements in first 5 days were studied. Group one included 33 gastroschisis patients, group two, 18 exomphalos patients, and group three, 38 patients with other surgical diagnoses. Outcome measures included TPN days, time to full feeds and duration of hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants with gastroschisis were more premature (36.9 vs 38.1 weeks) with lower birth weights (2515 vs 3078 g), than infants with exomphalos. CRP values on admission in gastroschisis group were significantly higher than exomphalos and other diagnoses groups (33.7 +/- 6.4 vs 8.8 +/- 6.0 vs 5.7 +/- 2.0, respectively, p < 0.05). All blood cultures were sterile. There was no relationship between high CRP and death or adverse outcome (TPN days, time to full feeds or duration of hospitalization) in the gastroschisis group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants with gastroschisis exhibit high early CRP, which may not indicate sepsis or adverse outcome. This increase can complicate the assessment of these infants. Clinicians should be aware of this finding as it could inform management decisions in this group.
authors.affiliation: Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rex
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okoye
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kennea
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001724:Birth Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005865:Gestational Age; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein