Aim: To determine serum IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha levels in neonatal sepsis at the time of diagnosis and after therapy, and to show the meaningful on the follow up.
Methods: This prospective study was performed on newborns who were hospitalized for neonatal sepsis and who were classified as culture-proven sepsis (n=12), as culture-negative sepsis (n=21), and as healthy newborns (n=17).
Results: At the time of diagnosis, serum IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha levels of culture-proven sepsis were significantly higher than those of the control groups (P<.05). At the time of diagnosis, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha levels of culture-proven sepsis and culture-negative sepsis were significantly higher than levels at the seventh day after antibiotic treatment.
Conclusion: Serum IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha are mediators of inflammation and can be used at the diagnosis and at the evaluation of the therapeutic efficiency in neonatal sepsis.