STEM-CELL FACTOR (SCF) LEVELS IN NEWBORNS

We studied Stem cell factor (SCF) levels in 15 mother-newborn pairs, 1 5 healthy adult controls, and 16 newborn with bacterial sepsis. SCF le vels were also determined in six newborns with sepsis before and after completion of treatment. SCF levels (pg/mL) were found to be 2141 +/- 529 in cord blood, 1385 +/- 314 in mothers, 1546 +/- 443 in healthy a dult controls, and 1742 +/- 655 in septic newborns. Cord blood SCF lev els were significantly higher than their mothers' and healthy controls (p < 0.05). There were no differences in SCF levels between mothers a nd healthy adult controls. No correlation was found between the SCF le vels and absolute neutrophil counts. There were no differences in SCF levels between the before and after treatment levels in six newborn wi th sepsis. In conclusion, our study suggests that SCF levels were incr eased in cord blood, and this increase is not a reflection of mothers' levels. SCF levels do not show significant changes during sepsis in n ewborns.