title: Role of pentoxifylline and/or IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of neonatal sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectivity of pentoxifylline (PTX) and immunoglobulin M (IgM)-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in the treatment of neonatal sepsis (NS), alone or in combination.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, double-blind, controlled study. Newborns with suspicion of sepsis were enrolled in the study. The patients were separated into four groups according to treatment protocol: Group 1 = placebo, Group 2 = pentoxifylline, Group 3 = IgM-enriched IVIG, and Group 4 = pentoxifylline + IgM-enriched IVIG. Blood samples were taken for C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, neutrophil CD64 expression, and tumor necrosis factor-alfa measurements immediately before treatment (1st day), and measurements were repeated on the 2nd and 4th days of the therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 204 patients, 51 in each group, were recruited into the study. There were no significant differences for symptoms of sepsis among groups, except lethargy. No significant differences were observed among the groups according to laboratory data. Overall mortality rate was 8.8%. The rates of morbidities and mortality among study groups were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX and IgM-enriched IVIG therapies, either alone or in combination, did not reduce the rates of morbidities and mortality in NS.
authors: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Arzu
authors: A
authors: Akdag
authors: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Dilmen
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Taibah University, Taibah University Medina, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Khalide
authors: K
authors: Haque
authors: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Dilli
authors: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Erdeve
authors: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Tuelin
authors: T
authors: Goekmen
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000097:blood; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010431:Pentoxifylline