title: Diagnostic value of anti-microbial peptide, cathelicidin in congenital pneumonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic value of anti-microbial peptide (cathelicidin), LL-37, in congenital pneumonia and its relation to 25 hydroxycholecalciferol [(25 OH)D] status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 30 neonates with congenital pneumonia and culture proven sepsis admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Ain Shams University and 30 healthy neonates as control group. All neonates were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and measurement of serum 25(OH)D and cathelicidin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neonates with congenital pneumonia had significantly higher serum cathelicidin and lower serum 25(OH)D compared to controls. Serum cathelicidin was negatively correlated with Apgar score at 1 and 5 min and positively correlated with length of stay among patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cut-off value of cathelicidin to diagnose congenital pneumonia was 17 pg/mmol with 93% sensitivity and 86% specificity. Neonates with congenital pneumonia had significantly high cathelicidin and low 25(OH)D suggesting a possible role of fetal 25(OH)D deficiency as predisposing factor for congenital pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics and.
authors.forename: Ghada I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Gad
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics and.
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Abushady
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine , Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt.
authors.forename: Marwa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics and.
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elsaadany
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D002112:Calcifediol; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: 25(OH)D; LL-37; cathelicidin; hCAP18; neonatal; pneumonia; sepsis; vitamin D