Abstract

Background: Difficulties during interpretation of serological tests carried out to detect Cytomegaly in pregnant patients and difficulties in evaluating intrauterine transmission of the infection to a foetus is the reason for use of the Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for Cytomegaly Virus (CMV) detection. To evaluate the dependence between CMV presence intensification and a neonate’s well being, the quantitative PCR (QPCR) method was applied.Material/Methods: 48 infants were prospectively evaluated when they showed first symptoms of sepsis and 24 hours later. Blood samples for cultures, CRP, PCT, IL-6 and IL-10 were taken. The control group were 20 preterm neonates without any infections.Results: Neonates with Gram negative sepsis had higher CRP, PCT, IL-6 and IL-10 levels than control and Gram-positive sepsis group on admission and 24 hours later. PCT, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in both infected groups in comparison to control group, at the start of the study and 24 hours later. PCT levels in non-survivors were significantly higher from the start of the study. Mean IL-10 plasma concentration was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors at the time of the onset and 24 hours later.Conclusions: Our study demonstrate that preterm neonates suffered from sepsis are capable of producing similar concentrations of CRP, PCT, IL-6 and IL-10 as children or adults. Significantly higher levels of PCT and IL-10 were found in non-survivals. From all four studied substances, procalcitonin sample seems to be the most reliable, quick and cost-effective diagnostic test in late-onset sepsis with very high predictive value.

Keywords: C-Reactive Protein, interleukine-6, interleukine-10, neonate, Sepsis, procalcitonin