Elevated plasma and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration and combined outcome of death or abnormal neuroimaging in preterm neonates with early-onset clinical sepsis

OBJECTIVE: Prematurity and sepsis are the major contributors of neonatal mortality and neurodevelopmental sequelae. The present study was conducted to measure the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-alpha in preterm neonates with early-onset clinical sepsis (EOCS), and to find out their association with combined outcome of death or abnormal neuroimaging. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two preterm (. 34 weeks) neonates with EOCS and 32 gestational age-matched, healthy neonates served as cases and controls, respectively. Samples were collected soon after birth. Neonates were followed up clinically and by serial cranial ultrasonography (CUS) until discharge and subsequently by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain until 1 year. Developmental screening was done by Denver Developmental Screening test-II. RESULT: In EOCS group, no neonate had any clinical/microbiological evidence of meningitis. Blood culture was positive in 17 (53%). CUS was abnormal in 12 (37%) (intracranial hemorrhage-11, periventricular leukomalacia-1). Ten (31%) neonates expired. Significant elevation of plasma and CSF IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha was observed in the EOCS group. On follow-up, seven (22%) neonates showed evidence of white matter damage in MRI, two of them had developmental delay and microcephaly. Plasma and CSF IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha concentration were significantly elevated in deceased neonates and those with abnormal neuroimaging. Both biomarkers demonstrated high predictive accuracy for poor outcome in receiver-operating curve analysis. CONCLUSION: Elevation of plasma and CSF IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha is associated with an increase in the combined outcome of death or abnormal neuroimaging in preterm neonates with EOCS in the absence of clinical/microbiological evidence of meningitis with high predictive accuracy.