Evaluation of serum chemokine RANTES concentration as a biomarker in the diagnosis of early-onset severe infections in neonates.
OBJECTIVE
Only a few studies on improving the early diagnosis of severe neonatal infections have focused on the role of serum RANTES concentration (sRC). The aim of the study was to establish sRC in neonates with early-onset infections, according to their gestational age, sex, birth asphyxia, mode of delivery and value of some biochemical and hematological parameters.


METHODS
The analysis comprised 129 neonates, including 89 infected (52 preterm, 37 full-term; 43 with sepsis, 39 with congenital pneumonia, 7 with severe urinary tract infection) and 40 healthy (control group, 25 full-term, 15 preterm). The sRC in peripheral vein blood was measured by the ELISA method using Quantikine Set (R & D systems, USA).


RESULTS
The sRC in infected neonates ranged from 10.83 to 122.55 μg/ml, in full-term neonates from 18.28 to 122.55 μg/ml, and in preterm from 10.83 to 118.24 μg/ml. The mean sRCs in full-term septic neonates (73.95±25.99 μg/ml) and with organ infections (58.43±29.24 μg/ml) were significantly higher than healthy ones (28.25±14.06 μg/ml). The mean sRCs in septic preterm neonates (59.17±28.29 μg/ml) and those with organ infections (50.86±28.16) were significantly higher than in healthy preterm neonates (25.61±8.29 μg/ml). Positive correlations between sRC and CRP value (r=0.3014, p=0.004) and between sRC and band cell count (r=0.2489, p=0.019) were found in all infected neonates.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant increase of serum RANTES concentration in early-onset infections in neonates, regardless of their gestational age, sex and birth asphyxia, not only proves the presence of an active immunological process but also may be a useful biomarker for diagnosis of severe neonatal infections.
Department of Pediatrics, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Małgorzata
M
Stojewska
Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Wąsek-Buko
Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Behrendt
B
Jakub
Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Dominika
D
Wiśniewska-Ulfig
Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Anna
A
Goleniowska-Król
Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Anna
A
Szymańska
Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland.
Urszula
U
Godula-Stuglik
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D015415:Biomarkers; C483024:CCL5 protein, human; D018946:Chemokine CCL5