Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels in Healthy Neonates in Different Gestational and Postnatal Ages

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Normative data for serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in neonates is limited.
• Understanding CRP levels is crucial for neonatal health assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data for serum CRP in healthy neonates.
• To compare CRP levels across different gestational and postnatal age groups.
• To evaluate CRP trends in preterm neonates over the first 28 days of life.

Main Methods:

• Part I: Compared serum CRP in healthy neonates (28 weeks gestation to term) across gestational and postnatal age groups in the first week.
• Recruited 150 participants (term, late preterm, moderate-to-very preterm), divided by postnatal age (24-95h and 96-168h).
• Part II: Assayed weekly CRP in moderate-to-very preterm neonates up to day 28.

Main Results:

• Term neonates exhibited higher serum CRP levels, particularly those aged 24-95 hours.
• Maternal and perinatal factors, excluding postnatal age, did not significantly influence CRP levels.
• Serum CRP levels showed no significant change over 28 days in moderate-to-very preterm neonates.

Conclusions:

• Serum CRP is highest in healthy term neonates within the first 95 hours post-birth.
• CRP levels are relatively stable during the first month of life for moderate-to-very preterm infants.
• This study provides valuable normative CRP data for neonatal populations.