Early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for newborns, especially in preterm birth. Serum IL-6 levels are used as an accurate marker for EOS; however, no study has focused on the changes in serum IL-6 levels in newborns with EOS. Here, we investigated 6 preterm newborns (23.4-28.2 wks' gestational age) with birthweights of 570-1080 g who were diagnosed with EOS. All newborns received active treatment, including exchange transfusions and/or polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion for septic shock. In the 3 surviving newborns, serum-IL-6 levels peaked at >500,000, 256,500, and 356,000 pg/mL within 12 h of life, and then decreased to <100 pg/mL by 72 h of life. In the 3 newborns who died at 17, 30, and 61 h of life, serum IL-6 levels increased to >500,000, 198,000, and 1,354,000 pg/mL, respectively, prior to death. Therefore, in preterm newborns suspected of EOS, serial serum IL-6 determinations would be useful for not only detecting EOS, but also for monitoring sepsis severity.

中文翻译：

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革兰氏阴性早发性脓毒症早产儿血清 IL-6 水平的快速变化

早发性败血症 (EOS) 仍然是新生儿发病和死亡的主要原因，尤其是早产。血清 IL-6 水平用作 EOS 的准确标志物；然而，没有研究关注 EOS 新生儿血清 IL-6 水平的变化。在这里，我们调查了 6 名被诊断患有 EOS 的早产儿（胎龄 23.4-28.2 周），出生体重为 570-1080 g。所有新生儿均接受积极治疗，包括换血和/或多粘菌素 B 固定纤维柱直接血液灌流治疗感染性休克。在 3 名存活的新生儿中，血清-IL-6 水平在 12 小时内达到 >500,000、256,500 和 356,000 pg/mL 的峰值，然后在 72 小时内降至 <100 pg/mL。在 17、30 和 61 小时死亡的 3 名新生儿中，血清 IL-6 水平分别增加到 >500,000、198,000 和 1,354,000 pg/mL，分别在死前。因此，在疑似 EOS 的早产儿中，连续血清 IL-6 测定不仅可用于检测 EOS，还可用于监测脓毒症的严重程度。