You are here: Home :: Area NEM :: Medical science :: Human medicine

José Figueras-Aloy, Lilian Gómez-Lopez, J. Manuel Rodríguéz-Miguélez, Yolanda Jordán-García, M. Dolores Salvia-Roiges, Wladimiro Jiménez, Xavier Carbonell-Estrany

Plasma endothelin-1 and clinical manifestations of neonatal sepsis

Keywords: endothelin-1, hypoxemia, Newborn, oliguria, pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, seizures, SNAP-II, systemic hypotension

Aim: To determine whether plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) relates to clinical manifestations of sepsis in the newborn, especially with systemic hypotension, acidosis, severe hypoxemia (which may represent pulmonary hypertension) and oliguria.

Methods: Prospective study of 35 consecutive newborns with clinical sepsis: 22 with hemoculture-positive (HC+) sepsis and 13 hemoculture-negative (HC–). Plasma ET-1 concentrations were measured within 2 days of the diagnosis of sepsis. SNAP-II severity score was performed at the time of highest clinical severity.

Results: Newborns with HC+ sepsis had higher plasma ET-1 concentrations and SNAP-II scores (especially PO₂/FiO₂ratio) than HC– septic children. Plasma ET-1 concentrations increased linearly with each item of the SNAP-II score, but only reached significant differences in lowest mean blood pressure (P=0.030), lowest pH (P=0.048), multiple seizures (P=0.010) and lowest urine output (P=0.013). Leukocyte count, immature/total neutrophil ratio and C-reactive protein value were not different. Each item of the SNAP-II score was independently related only to ET-1 level. Oliguria, acidosis and systemic hypotension were more correlated (R²>0.5).

Conclusions: Plasma ET-1 levels in neonatal sepsis are related to the severity of clinical manifestations, especially oliguria, acidosis and systemic hypotension.

Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 32, 11/2004
Pages: 522 - 526

Show full article (external site)

Show all available items of this journal

 

Area NEM