[Evaluation of serum cortisol concentration in neonates with infections complicated by acute respiratory failure]

In 84 newborns with acute respiratory failure serum cortisol and its changes were evaluated in relation to the cause of the disease, maturity of the neonate and severity of the respiratory insufficiency. Thirty-nine out of the 84 newborns were born prematurely, 51 were suffering from pneumonia, 23 had sepsis. In all the neonates, serum cortisol concentrations were measured three times: on admission, on the fourth day of treatment and during convalescence. During the acute stage of the disease serum cortisol was raised in all newborns, irrespective of their maturity. The level of cortisol declined to normal values during convalescence.