title: Inflammatory and oxidative cord blood parameters as predictors of neonatal sepsis severity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neonatal sepsis is a complex syndrome involving an uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response associated with an infection. It may result in the dysfunction or failure of one or more organs or even death. Given its high incidence in premature neonates, the identification of prognostic factors to optimize the early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions are highly desirable. This objective study determine the relationship between inflammatory markers and oxidative parameters as prognostic factors in early neonatal sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective observational study by collecting data from 120 patients in the maternity unit of a university hospital. Preterm (<37 weeks of pregnancy) infants with at least one additional risk factor for neonatal sepsis were included. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and protein carbonyls and their association with sepsis severity were determined in the cord blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of IL-6 and TBARS, but not IL-10 and protein carbonyls, demonstrated a mild to moderate correlation with the SNAPPE-II severity score (r=0.435, p=0.02 and r = 0.385, p = 0.017, respectively). No correlations were found between these markers and mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TBARS and IL-6 have a mild to moderate correlation with SNAPPE-II, but none of the studied markers were able to predict mortality in our sample.
authors.forename: Thiago Arpini
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cancelier
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Constantino
authors.forename: Fabricia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petronilho
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dal-Pizzol