Endotoxin-Binding Proteins Are Low in Cord Blood of Healthy and Septic Preterm Infants

Background. Endotoxin binding proteins - lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) - modulate inflammatory host response. There are no data on LBP and BPI in preterm infants .Hypothesis. Concentrations of LBP, BPI, sCD14 are low in healthy preterm neonates and in early-onset sepsis. Methods. LBP, sCD14, BPI were measured (ELISA) in cord blood of healthy preterm (< 30 weeks GA) and term infants and preterm infants with early onset sepsis (pos. blood culture/intra partum antibiotics + clinical signs+CRP/I:T ratio).Results. (median, min-max) Table

Table 1

Conclusion sCD14 and LBP are low in cord blood of healthy preterm neonates. In early onset sepsis LBP was only 5 times higher than in healthy preterms (20 fold in adult sepsis, Froon, JID 1995). Low concentrations of endotoxin-binding proteins may contribute to the susceptibility of preterm infants to sepsis.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account

Continue with Google

Continue with ORCiD