title: Elucidating the role of genomics in neonatal sepsis.
abstract: Sepsis is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, especially in vulnerable preterm populations. Immature immune defenses, and environmental and maternal factors contribute to this risk, with as many as a third of very preterm infants experiencing sepsis during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Epidemiologic and twin studies have suggested that there is a genetic contribution to sepsis predilection. Several investigators have conducted candidate gene association studies on variants of specific interest and potential functional significance in neonatal sepsis. In this review, we describe details of studies that have evaluated genetic susceptibility in neonatal sepsis, and summarize findings from a review of candidate gene association studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: srinivasanl@email.chop.edu.
authors.forename: Lakshmi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Haresh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirpalani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Charles Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cotten
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D018805:Sepsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic
keywords: gene association; genetics; neonate; sepsis