RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 C reactive protein in healthy term newborns during the first 48 hours of life
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F163
OP F166
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2016-312506
VO 103
IS 2
A1 Serafina Perrone
A1 Federica Lotti
A1 Mariangela Longini
A1 Annalisa Rossetti
A1 Ilaria Bindi
A1 Francesco Bazzini
A1 Elisa Belvisi
A1 Pasquale Sarnacchiaro
A1 Carlo Scapellato
A1 Giuseppe Buonocore
YR 2018
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/103/2/F163.abstract
AB Background Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease in newborns. C reactive protein (CRP) is the most used laboratory biomarker for the detection of EOS. Little is known about normal reference values of CRP during the perinatal period as several factors are able to influence it.Objectives To identify an appropriate range of CRP values in healthy term newborns during the first 48 hours of life.Design CRP determination was performed in 859 term newborns at 12, 24 and 48 hours of life. Mode of delivery, maternal vaginal culture results, intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP) and other perinatal variables were recorded.Results CRP mean values were significantly higher at 48 hours (4.10 mg/L) than at both 24 (2.30 mg/L) and 12 hours of life (0.80 mg/L). CRP levels were affected by a number of perinatal proinflammatory variables. In particular, CRP mean values were significantly higher in babies born by vaginal delivery (3.80 mg/L) and emergency caesarean section (3.60 mg/L) than in babies born by elective caesarean section (2.10 mg/L). Completed course of IAP led to lower CRP mean values (2.90 mg/L) than IAP not completed (3.80 mg/L) or not performed (4.70 mg/L).Conclusions Postnatal age and mode of delivery significantly influence CRP values. Reliable reference values are crucial in order to obtain an adequate diagnostic accuracy.