Regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted and tumor necrosis factor-α in septic neonates

Objective:measuring serum tumour necrosis factor-α (tnf-α) and regulated upon activation normal t cell expressed and secreated (rantes) in neonatal sepsis and determining whether early and late onset sepsis were associated with differences in their concentrations.study design:in 15 neonates showing clinical signs of early- or late-onset infection, serum tnf-α and rantes were determined at first suspicion of sepsis and before starting antibiotics. fifteen healthy neonates were included as controls.results:serum tnf-α white blood cells and c-reactive protein (crp) were significantly higher, whereas rantes was significantly lower in the septic group compared with the non-septic group. there was no significant difference in rantes or tnf-α levels between infants having early or late-onset sepsis. similar to term neonates, premature neonates, responded to infection with increased tnf-α and decreased rantes, with no statistical differences between both groups.conclusion:in this study tnf-α is the best diagnostic test of neonatal sepsis, followed by crp, when evaluated at first suspicion of sepsis.