Increased serum concentrations of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors p55 and p75 in early onset neonatal sepsis

Sepsis and pneumonia are major causes of morbidity and mortality in t he neonatal period. The symptoms are variable and unspecific. So far, no relia diagnostic test for neonatal infection has been found. In t his study we measured serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor r eceptors (sTNFR) p55 and p75 in non-infected and infected neonates, a nd evaluated the diagnostic value of these mediators as tests for ear ly detection of neonates with sepsis or pneumonia. Blood was collecte d on admission and after 3-4 days from 161 neonates consecutively adm itted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during the first wee k of life. Twenty two neonates suffered from infection and 127 were c lassified as non-infected (controls). Samples were analyzed for p55 a nd p75, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count with diff erential. Both preterm and term infected neonates had initially highe r concentrations of p55 (both p