title: C1 inhibitor level on neonatal sepsis and its relations with clinical findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Generalised oedema is a frequent finding during neonatal sepsis, but its aetiology remains uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to measure functional C1 inhibitor (fC1 inh) levels in newborns with culture-proven sepsis, compare the results with age- and gestational age (GA)-matched controls and correlate the results with the clinical course of the patients during infection, with regard to vascular leak and oedema formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newborns with blood culture-proven sepsis were included and samples for C1 inh levels were obtained before the beginning of antibiotic therapy and on the 3rd day of treatment. Body weight, urine output and other treatment modalities including volume boluses were recorded. Oedema formation as a sign of vascular leak was determined by calculating percent weight change over time. Age- and GA-matched newborns without infection were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference was observed between the patient and the control groups concerning fC1 inh levels. Percent weight change in the patient group was not correlated with the C1 inh levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite studies suggesting the role of C1 inhibitor deficiency in vascular leak during sepsis in adults, there is no information in the literature regarding the C1 inh levels of healthy or septic newborns to date. In this study, fC1 inh levels were no different than controls, necessitating the consideration of other factors causing vascular leak and oedema during neonatal sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. anilaktas@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tapisiz
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ergenekon
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oktem
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okumus
authors.forename: Aysegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zenciroğlu
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atalay
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; D004487:Edema / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D050718:Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein; C469952:SERPING1 protein, human