[Hypersensitive C-reactive protein test in the diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical value of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) test in early diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants.


METHODS
Thirty-five premature infants with early-onset infection, 50 premature infants with non-infectious diseases and 40 healthy premature infants 3 hrs after birth were enrolled. Serum hsCRP levels were measured by particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Diagnostic test of hsCRP was performed.


RESULTS
Serum hsCRP levels shown as medium and inter-quartile ranges (M, Q75-25) were 2.19 and 4.96 mg/L respectively in the infection group, 0.41 and 0.61 mg/L respectively in the non-infectious disease group, and 0.24 and 0.28 mg/L respectively in the healthy group. Serum hsCRP levels in the infection group were significantly higher than those in the non-infectious disease and the healthy groups. When serum hsCRP test was used for the diagnosis of early-onset infection, the area under the ROC curve was 0.84, 95% confidence interval was 0.76-0.93, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 86% respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 37% and 97% respectively. ConclusionsSerum hsCRP test is valuable in early diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants, but it can not serve as an independent diagnostic marker.
Department of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical School, Shanghai 200127, China.
Jun
J
Bu
Jian-Hua
JH
Sun
Jian-Xin
JX
Zhu
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein