Abstract:
Background and objective: In neonatal bacterial infection (NBI), circulating interleukin-8 (IL-8 ) is a highly potent cytokine, which is bound to specific IL-8-receptors. The Duffy antigen related chemokine receptor (DARC) on the surface of erythrocytes binds IL-8 as well. Therefore, IL-8 not only is detectable in plasma, but also in lysed whole blood. Kinetics and correlations between IL-8-concentrations in healthy newborns and neonates with NBI are yet not known. Patients and methods: IL-8 concentrations in plasma and lysed EDTA blood from term neonates were detected via ELISA (Immulite). Blood was gained by venipuncture and immediately lysed. 61 neonates showed clinical and serological signs of NBI. Samples were taken by the first clinical suspicion of NBI. Other parameters (white blood cell count, differential, CRP and I/T-ratio) were evaluated. The control group (CG) consisted of 188 neonates with risk factors (e.g. premature rupture of membranes) but no signs of NBI. Results: Compared to the control group, neonates with NBI showed significantly elevated plasma IL-8 levels in the first 12 hours of infection, ranging from 80 to 250 pg/ml (vs. 10 to 45 pg/ml in the CG) and quickly declining thereafter. Lysed EDTA-blood IL-8-concentrations were found to be 100-fold higher in both groups compared to the plasma levels. We found a significant elevation up to the first 24 hours in neonates with NBI (35200pg/ml +/- 18000pg/ml vs. 93054 pg/ml +/- 4300pg/ml in the CG) which existed already at the initial blood draw. After 12 hours IL-8 plasma concentrations declined in neonates with NBI. Lysed EDTA-blood IL-8-levels still remained elevated up to 18 hours compared to the CG, implicating a broader time frame for detecting NBI via IL-8. Other evaluated parameters , including I/T-ratio initially showed no differences between the groups. Conclusion: In neonates, the detection of IL-8 in lysed EDTA-blood is an early predictor of NBI, at least comparable to plasma-levels. As compared to plasma IL-8-concentrations, IL-8 in EDTA-blood from neonates with NBI show a prolonged interval of elevation and may thereby help to widen the time-frame for detecting neonatal infection.