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[Determination of serum lysozyme in infants with septicemia]
Insights
Serum lysozyme levels were analyzed in children with and without septicemia. Elevated lysozyme indicates severe infection, normalizing post-treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
Context:
- Serum lysozyme is an enzyme with antimicrobial properties.
- Septicemia is a life-threatening condition in children.
- Understanding biomarkers for pediatric septicemia is crucial.
Purpose:
- To analyze serum lysozyme levels in healthy children and those with septicemia.
- To determine if serum lysozyme can serve as a biomarker for pediatric septicemia.
Summary:
- A study compared serum lysozyme levels in 40 healthy children and 40 children diagnosed with septicemia (aged 1-18 months).
- Normal serum lysozyme values ranged from 5-24 µg/ml in healthy children.
- Infected patients showed a wider range (4.4-53.3 µg/ml), with significantly elevated levels (p<0.05) in septicemia cases, though some showed normal readings.
- Lysozyme levels normalized upon infection clearance, and a 15% mortality rate was observed.
Impact:
- Serum lysozyme may serve as a useful indicator for severe infections and septicemia in pediatric patients.
- Monitoring lysozyme levels could aid in diagnosing and managing pediatric septicemia.
- This research contributes to identifying accessible biomarkers for early sepsis detection in children.
Abstract:
The literature on serum lysozyme was reviewed and the normal values for this enzyme were analyzed in 40 healthy children (control group) and 40 children with a clinical diagnosis of septicemia. The patients were 1 to 18 months old and were hospitalized in the H.P. of the C.M.N., I.M.S.S. In 12 of these, the blood cultures developed bacteria, while 26 were negative. It was found that the normal values varied in healthy children from 5 to 24 microgram/ml. In the group of infected patients, the values varied from 4.4 to 53.3 microgram/ml. The group of healthy patients (control) was compared with the infected patients and a significantly difference was found (p less than 0.05), although in some infected children the readings for lysozyme were normal. In all patients, lysozyme returned to normal when the infection cleared. The mortality rate in this study was 15 per cent. It is concluded that in patients with severe infection, the levels of lysozyme in the serum may the elevated, while in patients with clinical signs of septicemia with positive blood cultures, there is a rise in lysozyme.