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Diagnostic value of plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in newborns with sepsis
Author(s) -
Bont ESJM,
Martens A,
Raan J,
Samson G,
Fetter WPF,
Okken A,
Leij LHFM,
Kimpen JLL
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1994.tb13121.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sepsis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , neonatal sepsis , gastroenterology , tumor necrosis factor α , interleukin , cytokine , immunology
The aim of this study was to examine if TNFα and IL‐6 plasma levels could be of value in diagnosing neonatal sepsis. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) plasma levels were determined in 15 newborn infants with confirmed sepsis (group I), 18 with suspected sepsis (group II) and 22 control infants (group III). In 33 newborns, initially suspected of having sepsis (groups I and 11), a positive test result for plasma concentration of TNFα (> 70 pg/ml) had a sensitivity of 73 % and a specificity of 94%. A positive test result for IL‐6 (>500 pg/ml) had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 78%. When plasma levels of TNFα and IL‐6 were combined for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, a positive test result for both tests had a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 100%. When both tests are positive the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is almost certain (likelihood ratio =α. The combination of TNFα and IL‐6 determinations appears to be a good predictor of neonatal sepsis.