Procalcitonin in the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis of the newborn

In a prospective study starting in January 1998 Procalcitonin (PCT), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured within 12 hours of age and between 24 and 36 hours of age in neonates with presumed sepsis. Twelve neonates were diagnosed as having sepsis by either positive blood culture (67%) or clinical septicemia (33%), and PCT and IL-6 values differed significantly compared with 15 non-infected neonates (p=0.01 and 0.00003, respectively). Within 12 hours of age sensitivities of PCT, IL-6 and CRP were 75%, 67%, and 42%, respectively. Differences between PCT vs. CRP and IL-6 vs. CRP were marked but not statistically significant (p=0.053, p=0.119). Between 24 and 36 hours of age PCT and CRP were positive in 100%, and IL-6 was negative in all cases. PCT seems to be a very promising early marker of neonatal sepsis, but more patients are needed to confirm this preliminary data.