Evaluation of interleukin-6 and soluble receptors of tumor necrosis factor for early diagnosis of neonatal infection☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
Study population
In a prospective study, we included all newborn infants admitted to the neonatal unit between March and May 1994 and measured IL-6, sTNF-R, and CRP. During the same period, IL-6 and sTNF-R were systematically determined in cord blood of the newborn infants delivered in the obstetrics unit and in the blood of some of their mothers.
In all cases the parents were informed and their written consent was obtained.
Methods of determination
Interleukin-6. Blood (100 μl, allowing a double determination) was collected in
Study population
The study population comprised 131 newborn infants systematically sampled in the obstetrics unit and 157 newborn infants admitted to the NICU. In all newborn infants the IL-6 and soluble TNF-α receptors were determined. In 58 of these infants, sampled at delivery, the same determinations were made in their mothers. The 157 neonates referred to the NICU also had a leukocyte count with differential count, sequential CRP determinations, and blood and local cultures according to clinical
DISCUSSION
For the efficient care of any infants at risk of infection, there is a requirement for a marker that responds early, is sensitive (identifying all patients with true sepsis), and is specific (to reduce unnecessary antibiotic treatment or to shorten it). Indeed, bacteriologic results need time and, even if negative, do not exclude sepsis. Such a marker would therefore be useful in reducing antibiotic treatment. In this study, we evaluated for the first time TNF-α receptors plasma levels for this
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Cited by (0)
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From the Neonatal Unit, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Hopital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France, and F. Hoffmann-LaRoche, Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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Reprint requests: Jean Messer, MD, Pédiatrie II, Hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg-Cedex, France.
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0022-3476/96/$5.00 + 0 9/21/75550