SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES IN NEONATAL SEPSIS

Abstract

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality during the neonatal period in spite of the use of potent antibiotics and intensive supportive care (Roman et al., 1993 and Krakauer et al., 1999). Bacteremia and septic shock are associated with the release of endotoxins into the circulation (Van Deventer et al., 1988). Cytokines, in turn, may induce many of the responses associated with sepsis and septic shock (Bakwell and Christman, 1996). Tumor necrosis factor -alpha (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)-8 and interferon-gamma (IFN-y) are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis (Krakauer et al., 1999). Symptoms of neonatal sepsis are variable and nonspecific therefore, reliable methods for early detection and monitoring sepsis in the newborn would be beneficial in reducing the overall morbidity and mortality (Gotoff, 1993). The aim of this study was to evaluate TNF-a, IL-8 and IFN-y serum levels as markers for diagnosis and prognosis of neonatal sepsis and septic shock. The study was conducted at the newborn nursery (NBN) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Assiut University Hospital in Assiut, from November 1996 to July 1997. Patients enrolled in the

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