Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal sepsis. Adjunctive therapies are being sought to improve the outcome. Because increased blood levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α may play a role in the development of sepsis and an adverse outcome thereof, we evaluated the potential use of antibodies against TNF-α as adjunctive therapy of GBS sepsis. Using a neonatal rat model of GBS sepsis, we measured serum levels of TNF-α. Levels of TNF-α were significantly increased beginning 12 h after GBS inoculation and remained significantly increased at 30-36 h. We then examined the use of adjunctive therapy with antibody to TNF-α in animals with established GBS sepsis using polyclonal rabbit antirecombinant mouse TNF-α antiserum. Twelve hours after GBS inoculation, animals received a single dose of antibody to TNF-α or normal rabbit serum, and penicillin therapy (twice a day for 3 d) was begun. Animals receiving penicillin and antibody to TNF-α had a survival rate of 52% (13 of 25) versus 29% (7 of 24) for animals receiving penicillin and normal rabbit serum. Thus, the use of antibodies directed against TNF-α may have a role as adjunctive therapy of established GBS sepsis in the newborn infant.
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Givner, L., Gray, L. & O'Shea, T. Antibodies to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α: Use as Adjunctive Therapy in Established Group B Streptococcal Disease in Newborn Rats. Pediatr Res 38, 551–554 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199510000-00013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199510000-00013
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