Acta Med. 2007, 50: 229-231
Surface Activation Leukocyte Markers and Humoral Factors in Cord Blood of Newborns at Risk of Early Infection
Due to immaturity of both specific and non-specific immune mechanisms, neonates are at risk of serious infections. The risk group definition is vague, clinical signs are non-specific and common laboratory markers are not as useful as in later ages, especially due to delayed reactions. In an attempt to find early, sensitive and specific markers, we assessed a defined set of surface leukocyte markers and humoral factors in cord blood. Several differences were noted – children in the risk group had a higher proportion of CD19+/23+, CD16+/64+, CD45RO cells and higher levels of IL-6. We find it promising that already at birth there are notable signs of reaction to infection and that a follow-up of a set of infectious markers could be useful to identify the children in need of antibiotic treatment and for diminishing unnecessary treatment.
Keywords
Newborns, Early infection, Leukocyte surface markers, Interleukin, Neopterin, Procalcitonin.
Funding
This study was supported by grant no. 7533–3 from Internal Grant Agency of the Ministry of Health of Czech Republic.
References
Copyright
Published by the Karolinum Press. For permission to use please write to actamedica@lfhk.cuni.cz.