%0 Journal Article %T Immediate Diagnosis of Early Onset Sepsis in Premature Newborns by Measurement of Cord C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 %J Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences %I Shiraz University of Medical Sciences %Z 0253-0716 %A Gharehbaghi, M.M. %A Maamuri, G.A. %A Peirovifar, A. %A Boskabadi, H. %A Afshari, J.T. %A Shakeri, M.T. %D 2007 %\ 12/01/2007 %V 32 %N 4 %P 217-221 %! Immediate Diagnosis of Early Onset Sepsis in Premature Newborns by Measurement of Cord C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 %K Premature newborn %K Sepsis %K CRP %K Interleukin-6 %R %X Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between early onset sepsis and increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cord plasma. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 141 premature infants delivered with gestational ages of 26-35 weeks. IL-6 and CPR were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay in the cord plasma of the neonates. According to clinical, laboratory findings and blood culture results, newborn infants were allocated into four groups (A-D): documented early onset infection, clinical sepsis, possible infection, and control groups respectively. Results: Mean IL-6 levels in group A-D was 264, 212, 160, and 33.3 pg/ml respectively. Difference between groups was statistically significant (p=.002). With cut off point of 18 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of IL-6 for diagnosis of early onset sepsis was 72% and 55% respectively.  There was not significant difference between mean levels of CRP among groups (p=0.28). Conclusion: Having considered the relatively good sensitivity and moderate specificity of cord IL-6, using this test can be recommended as a useful detector of early onset sepsis and non-infected sick neonates. %U https://ijms.sums.ac.ir/article_39966_e6dd69a011bb1ea08598de99e8af7031.pdf