A New Marker for Early Diagnosis in Neonatal Sepsis: Polymorphonuclear Leucocyte Elastase Levels

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) elastase as an early indicator and follow-up parameter in neonatal sepsis. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of forty patients with the diagnosis of sepsis and the control group included twenty newborn. Inclusion criteria were formerly sought in our subjects who were diagnosed using the Tollner scoring system and based on the clinical observations and laboratory findings. The results of white blood cell and platelet counts, immature/total neutrophil ratio, CRP and PMN elastase values were evaluated in both groups. Enzyme linked immunoassay methods were used to determine the PMN elastase levels. Results: The mean PMN elastase level was found to be 145.1 }34.6 ng/mL in patients with neonatal sepsis and 75.5 }9.8 ng/mL in healthy subjects (p 0.001). When the plasma PMN elastase levels were compared between both groups, the specificity was %96.3, sensitivity was %94.6, negative estimation value was %93.5 and positive estimation value was %95.1. Conclusion: These findings indicate that PMN elastase level is a major indicator for the early diagnosis of newborn sepsis.