ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Pediatrica 2017 December;69(6):489-94

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.16.04317-X

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The value of pancreatic stone protein in the prediction of infected neonates

Rong WU ¹ ✉, Li ZHA ¹, Jin-Hui HU ¹, Jian-Ming WU ¹, Zhao-Fang TIAN ²

¹ Neonatal Medical Center, Huai’an Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Yangzhou University Medical School, Huai’an, China; ² Department of Neonatology, Huai’an First People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an, China

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine serum pancreatic stone protein (PSP) levels in the neonates with highly probable or probable sepsis and assess their possible value in predicting infected neonates.
METHODS: This was a prospective study involving 119 neonates who were admitted with suspected sepsis. The study population was divided into two groups, a infected group (N.=40, with highly probable sepsis or probable sepsis) and control group (N.=79, with possible or no sepsis). The blood samples were obtained at 24, 72 and 168 hours after birth. The amount of serum PSP were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA).
RESULTS: PSP serum concentrations were higher in the infected group comparison to the control group at all time points (all P=0.000). In addition the sequential comparison between the infected group and control group at all of time points was significantly different (F=48.558, P=0.000). ROC area under the curve (AUC) was 0.791 [95% CI: 0.71-0.87; P=0.000] for PSP at 24 hours after birth and 0.790 (95% CI: 0.79-0.88; P=0.000) 72 hours after birth and combination of the two time points (24 and 72 hours), the AUC was 0.819 (95% CI: 0.74-0.90; P=0.000).
CONCLUSIONS: PSP is a valuable biomarker in predicting infected neonates. Combination of PSP at each time point within 72 hours after birth might be better.

KEY WORDS: Newborn infant - Infection - Human REG1A protein