title: Role of presepsin in the diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the most challenging aspects in the management of neonates with late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS) is to make the diagnosis. Presepsin is a novel and promising marker of sepsis. The aim of this study was to assess the role of presepsin in the diagnosis of LOS in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two premature newborns ≤32 weeks gestational age with a diagnosis of LOS were prospectively involved in the study. Forty gestational and postnatal age-matched infants without sepsis served as controls. Levels of presepsin, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were measured at enrollment and on the third and seventh days of sepsis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial presepsin levels in the LOS group were significantly higher than in the control group (1024 pg/mL, min-max: 295-8202; versus 530 pg/mL, min-max: 190-782; p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver-operating curve for presepsin was 0.864. A presepsin value of 800.5 pg/mL was established as a cut-off value, with 67% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Presepsin levels gradually decreased during treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presepsin can be used as a reliable biomarker for LOS and treatment response in preterm infants. However, we could not demonstrate the efficacy of presepsin for the detection of disease severity or prognosis.
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey .
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topcuoglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Microbiology , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Cansev
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arslanbuga
authors.affiliation: c School of Medicine, Koc University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gursoy
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey .
authors.forename: Alev
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey .
authors.forename: Guner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatekin
authors.affiliation: b Department of Microbiology , Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uluhan
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey .
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovali
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C000594167:presepsin protein, human
keywords: Late-onset sepsis; newborn; premature; presepsin