SERUM CONCENTRATION OF GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR IN TERM AND PRETERM INFANTS

We measured serum granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) concent ration and absolute neutrophil count in four groups of infants: (1) 15 healthy term newborn infants; (2) 21 healthy preterm newborn infants, with mean (SD) birth weight 1583 (533) g, and gestational age 32.0 (3 .8) weeks; (3) 5 infected newborn infants; (4) 22 6-month-old control infants. Median (range) serum GCSF concentration was 132.2 (41.5-176.0 ) pg/ml in term infants, 51.5 (1.8-175.7) pg/ml in preterm infants and 138.9 (54.1-449.8) pg/ml in 6-month-old control infants, with a signi ficant reduction in preterm infants, as compared to term and control i nfants. GCSF levels were significantly higher in the infected infants, as compared to healthy neonates. Conclusion A significant positive re lationship was found in term and preterm infants between serum GCSF co ncentration and gestational age or birth weight. No relationship was f ound between serum GCSF concentration and neutrophil count. The low GC SF baseline levels may contribute to the increased incidence and sever ity of infection in preterm infants.