[Elastase-alpha 1-antiprotease in neonatal sepsis]

Elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E-alpha 1-PI) was evaluated in 682 blood samples from 516 newborn infants. They were divided into three groups: control (group 1; n = 99), non-infectious (group 2; n = 338) and infectious (group 3; n = 82). The plasma values of E-alpha 1-PI complex (median; minimum-maximum, in microgram/L) were 180; 46-296 in group 1, 337; 40-2524 in group 2 and 954.5; 183-8160 in group 3. Significant differences were found between the groups (p < 0.001). E-alpha 1-PI complex in blood showed a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 81.9%, positive predictive value of 30.6% and negative predictive value of 96.8% for the diagnosis of neonatal infection.