Perinatal asphyxia does not influence presepsin levels in neonates: A prospective study

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Biomarkers
• Perinatal Health

Background:

• Perinatal asphyxia is a critical condition in newborns.
• Biomarkers are crucial for diagnosing and managing neonatal conditions.
• Presepsin is a potential biomarker for infection and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare plasma and urinary presepsin levels in newborns with perinatal asphyxia versus controls.
• To investigate the relationship between presepsin levels and perinatal asphyxia.
• To assess presepsin as a biomarker in neonates experiencing perinatal asphyxia.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study enrolling 25 infants with perinatal asphyxia and 19 controls.
• Measurement of presepsin levels in blood and urine at multiple time points.
• Comparison of presepsin, CRP, and procalcitonin levels between groups.

Main Results:

• Blood and urinary presepsin levels correlated in neonates with perinatal asphyxia.
• No significant difference in blood presepsin levels between asphyxiated and control groups.
• Urinary presepsin levels were higher in neonates with perinatal asphyxia.
• CRP and procalcitonin levels increased in perinatal asphyxia, unlike presepsin.

Conclusions:

• Presepsin levels in blood and urine are similar in uninfected neonates with perinatal asphyxia.
• Perinatal asphyxia does not significantly influence presepsin levels within 72 hours.
• Transient renal impairment may slightly affect urinary presepsin in the first 12 hours.
• Presepsin does not appear to be a reliable biomarker for perinatal asphyxia in this cohort.