Abstract • 120

In order to study the levels of cytokines in newborn with sepsis and infection, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF α in human whole blood were measured by ELISA. The results showed that the plasma IL-6, IL-8 and TNF α levels in newborn with sepsis and infection were significantly higher at the onset of disease than those at the recovery of disease (P<0.05). At onset, these cytokines in newborn with sepsis and infection were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and these cytokines of newborn with sepsis were significantly higher than those of infection(P<0.05). At recovery, no difference of three cytokines were found among newborn with sepsis, infection and control group (P<0.05). It suggests that the high levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF α in plasma indicated infection and the levels of cytokines had correlation with severe degree of infection.