C reactive protein and procalcitonin: reference intervals for preterm and term newborns during the early neonatal period.
Author(s): Chiesa C, Natale F, Pascone R, Osborn JF, Pacifico L, Bonci E, De Curtis M
Publication: Clin Chim Acta, 2011, Vol. 412, Page 1053-9
PubMed ID: 21338596 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
Conclusion of Paper
Studies
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Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of length of gestation, newborn age, birth weight, gender, and other maternal and neonatal characteristics on the expression of CRP and PCT in serum which was frozen at -80 degrees C until analysis.
Summary of Findings:
CRP increased significantly with gestational age in weeks (p<0.01), and with increasing birth weight (p<0.01), but was unaffected by gender. CRP levels peaked in term neonates when infants were 56-70 h old, but in preterm neonates, CRP peaked when infants were 27-36 h old. The authors report average levels of CRP in preterm infants increased again between 100 and 120 h neonatal age, but there were a limited number of observations at these ages. Other prenatal and antenatal variables significantly increased CRP levels including duration of active labor, use of prenatal steroids, intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis, and duration of ruptured membranes. In addition, vaginal delivery significantly increased CRP concentrations compared to cesarean section (p<0.05), especially when the cesarean section was elective (p<0.01). PCT was negatively influenced by gestational age in weeks (p<0.0001), and increasing birth weight (p<0.05), but was unaffected by gender. PCT levels peaked in term neonates when infants were 24 h old, but PCT levels peaked in preterm neonates when infants were 21-22 h old. None of the other antenatal and perinatal variables analyzed significantly affected PCT levels.
Biospecimens
Preservative Types
- Frozen
Diagnoses:
- Normal
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform Protein Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Preaquisition Patient gender Female
Male
Preaquisition Patient age 0-120 h
Maternal age at delivery (unspecified range)
Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Preterm birth (30-36 weeks)
Term birth (37-39 weeks)
Vaginal birth
Elective cesarean section
Emergency cesarean section
Maternal complications during pregnancy
No maternal complications during pregnancy
Birth weight (unspecified range)
Intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis
No antimicrobial prophylaxis
Intrapartum fetal distress
No fetal distress
Duration of active labor (unspecified range)
Length of time of ruptured membranes (unspecified range)
Preaquisition Other drugs Maternal use of antenatal steroids
No use of antenatal steroids