Abstract 16

Background. PCT serum levels are low (< 0.5 ng/ml) and rise markedly in patients with severe infections. Due to its short half-life (< 24h) PCT could be a good marker of inflammation. Aims. 1) Define PCT levels in "normal" (non infected) newborns of different gestational (GA) and postnatal (PNA) ages: Group 1; 2) Investigate the response of PCT in newborns with sepsis: Group 2. Materials and methods. Repeated measurements of PCT (immunoluminometric), C Reactive Protein, C-RP (nephelometric), and cultures were performed on microsamples of blood in the 2 groups of infants: Group 1 (normal), n° 36, GA 37.6 w (28-41), BW 2796 g (1080-4130); Group 2 (infected), n° 15, GA 30.9 w (24-39), BW 1700 g (630-3400). Results. Subjects of Group 1 had a mean PCT of 0.61 ± SD 0.80, independently of their PNA (2-69 days), and a mean C-RP of 0.53 ± SD 0.42. Subjects of Group 2 showed variable but significant (P<0.01) increments of PCT and C-RP concomitantly with septic episodes: mean PCT 69.7 ± SD 23 ng/ml, mean C-PR 10.8 ± SD 12.7 mg/dl. PCT values of Group 2 did not overlap with those of Group 1 and decreased faster than C-RP during recovery from infection. Conclusions. PCT seems to be a reliable and sensitive test for the diagnosis of neonatal infections. (Supported by a Grant of the Italian Ministry of Health)