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Effect of Sepsis Syndrome on Neonatal Protein and Energy Metabolism

Journal of Perinatology volume 20, pages 96–100 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

It was our hypothesis that septic illness would alter both protein and energy metabolism in neonates, with elevations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) serving as markers for these effects.

STUDY DESIGN:

A total of 31 infants with suspected sepsis were enrolled into four groups: septic, sick-nonseptic, healthy-nonseptic, and recovered septic infants. Degree of illness, oxygen consumption, nitrogen balance, urine 3-methylhistidine/creatinine (MeH/Cr), and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured.

RESULTS:

Oxygen consumption increased, while nitrogen balance decreased and MeH/Cr increased with increasing degree of illness. Nitrogen balance improved on recovery from sepsis. IL-6 and CRP levels were elevated in septic infants compared with sick-nonseptic and healthy infants.

CONCLUSION: Neonates experience a hypermetabolic response with increased nitrogen loss during septic illness, proportional to the degree of illness. Increased delivery of protein substrate may be nutritionally advantageous to the septic neonate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Health Care-St. Paul and Department of Pediatrics, Infant Pulmonary Research Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    Jeanne D Mrozek MD, Michael K Georgieff MD, Bruce R Blazar MD, Mark C Mammel MD & Sarah J Schwarzenberg MD

  2. Research Medical Center at Kansas City, MO

    Jeanne D Mrozek MD

Authors
  1. Jeanne D Mrozek MD
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  2. Michael K Georgieff MD
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  3. Bruce R Blazar MD
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  4. Mark C Mammel MD
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  5. Sarah J Schwarzenberg MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah J Schwarzenberg MD.

Additional information

This work was supported by the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation and the Research and Education Foundation of Children’s Health Care-St. Paul. J. D. M. is the recipient of a Steven J. Boros Memorial Fellowship.

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Mrozek, J., Georgieff, M., Blazar, B. et al. Effect of Sepsis Syndrome on Neonatal Protein and Energy Metabolism. J Perinatol 20, 96–100 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200319

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