DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF MANNOSE-BINDING LECTIN SERUM LEVEL IN NEONATAL SEPSIS

Abstract

Background:Sepsis is one of the most important diseases in newborns and is responsible for 45% of late deaths in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Objective:The aim of the study was to evaluate mannose-binding lectin ( MBL) serum level as adiagnostic value of neonatal sepsis.
Subjects and method:This case–control study was conducted on68 neonates admitted to the neonatal ICU. The 68 neonates were divided into two groups: the patient group and the control group. The patient group included34 cases with neonatal sepsis and the control group included 34 healthy neonates. Serum levels of MBL were measured by immunoassay. The results were tabulated and analyzed with SPSS.
Results:Serum MBL levels were significantly lower in the neonates with sepsis than in the control group (27.05 ± 8.43 vs. 73.4 ± 20.4 ng/ml; P < 0.001). The lowest MBL levels were detected in those infants with septic shock. MBL had high sensitivity (97.1%) and specifi city (100%) as well as positive (100%) and negative (94.4%) predictive values to detect sepsis.
Conclusion and key messages:MBL serum level could be considered a sensitive and specific marker for prediction of neonatal sepsis. Neonates with significant decrease in MBL are at increased risk for developing sepsis and septic shock.
Keywords: mannose-binding lectin, newborn infants, sepsis, sepsis.