DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF PLASMA-LEVELS OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA (TNF-ALPHA) AND INTERLEUKIN-6 (IL-6) IN NEWBORNS WITH SEPSIS

The aim of this study was to examine if TNF alpha and IL-6 plasma leve ls could be of value in diagnosing neonatal sepsis. Tumor necrosis fac tor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) plasma levels were dete rmined 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 II), a po sitive test result for plasma concentration of TNF alpha (>70 pg/ml) h ad a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 94%. A positive test resu lt for IL-6 (>500 pg/ml) had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 78%. When plasma levels of TNF alpha and IL-6 were combined for the d iagnosis of neonatal sepsis, a positive test result for both tests had a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 100%. When both tests are p ositive the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is almost certain (likelihood ratio = infinity). The combination of TNF alpha and IL-6 determinatio ns appears to be a good predictor of neonatal sepsis.