The value of serum albumin level for the prognosis of late-preterm infants infection / 中国新生儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the value of serum albumin ( ALB ) level for the prognosis of late-preterm infants infection. Methods Late-preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU) from July 2012 to July 2013 were recruited and their clinical data retrospectively reviewed, including the laboratory examination results, neonatal critical illness scores ( NCIS ) , perinatal complications and prognosis. The infants were assigned into three groups based on ALB levels (＞30 g/L, 25-30 g/L, ＜25 g/L). Results A total of 257 cases were recruited and 122 cases (47. 4％) had ALB levels ＜25 g/L. 32 had neonatal sepsis ( sepsis group) , 190 neonatal infection ( infection group) and 35 without infection ( no-infection group ) . The incidences of hypoalbuminemia among these groups were 84. 4％, 50. 0％ and 28. 6％, with the mortality rate 15. 6％, 0. 5％ and 0％. The incidence of hypoalbuminemia and mortality rate in sepsis group were significantly higher than the other groups ( P＜0. 05 ) , and no statistically significant differences between infection group and no-infection group ( P＜0. 05). The ALB level in survived infants [(29. 6±7. 5)g/L] was statistically higher than the deceased ones [(20. 4±6. 9)g/L](P＜0. 05). The incidence of critically ill newborns was 65. 5％ in ALB ＜25 g/L group, significantly higher than the other groups (P＜0. 05). 26. 2％ in ALB ＜25 g/L group had more than 4 organs injuries, significantly higher than ALB ＞30 g/L group ( P＜0. 05 ) . Conclusions Hypoalbuminemia is common among neonates with sepsis. The ALB level had predictive value for the prognosis of neonatal infection.