[Value of procalcitonin measurement in materno foetal infection]

ABSTRACT

Materno foetal infection [MFI] remains one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early detection of neonatal sepsis can be difficult, because the first signs of the disease may be unspecific and similar to symptoms of other non-infectious processes. We aimed to investigate the role of procalcitonin [PCT] in the diagnosis of fetal infection [MFI], and to compare it with those of the C-reactive protein [CRP]. We have conducted a prospective study during 20 months; which concerned 25 new-borns suspected of MFI and admitted before 12 hours of life. All newborn had anamnestic and / or physical signs of possible infection. MFI was confirmed in newborns with positive bacterial analysis. CRP and PCT were determined in the sera at H12, H24, H36 and H48. Newborns were divided into patients with recognized MFI [group 1], patients with possible MFI [group 2] and non infected newborns [group 3] The specificity of PCT was 80% versus 27% for the CRP. Negative predictive value of PCT was 85% versus 66% for the CRP. The mean values, at H12, H24, H36 and H48, of PCT for newborn who had MFI were statistically grater than those for no infused group [p <0.05]. No statistical difference was observed concerning CRP values. PCT may a useful tool in early diagnosing of MFI; it has better specificity and negative predictive value than CRP