title: C-reactive protein: a marker of neonatal stress?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether blood values of C-reactive protein (CRP) in healthy term newborns, are influenced by stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since different types of delivery (vaginal delivery [VD], emergency C-section [EMCS] and elective C-section [ELCS]) are notoriously characterized by different levels of stress for the baby, these three groups were used as models of different levels of stress. The mean CRP values of the three groups obtained in the first hours of life were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We retrieved 1012 babies. Median values (3rd-97th ct) were: 0.05 (0.01-0.46), 0.17 (0.02-1.54), 0.30 (0.04-1.77), 0.43 (0.05-1.31), 0.40 (0.04-1.13) at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. Mean values in babies born after VD were statistically higher than those born after C-section, and higher CRP values were present in EMCS with respect to ELCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study described normal blood CRP values in a wide population of term babies. An influence of the type of delivery on blood CRP is evident, and this may be explained by the different amount of perinatal stress induced by anyone of the three types of delivery we considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproduction Medicine, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bellieni
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Liuzzo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giomi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tei
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stazzoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertrando
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cornacchione
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Braconi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zurli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buonocore
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D047929:Term Birth / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein