RESUMEN
We determined the concentration of umbilical cord blood neutrophil elastase (EN) in 143 neonates. The infants were divided into four groups: A - Term non-infected, B - Term infected, C - Preterm non-infected, D - Preterm infected. In the study a low concentration of cord blood elastase in premature children was found. It was significantly lower in preterm non-infected (p<0.001) and infected (p<0.05) neonates than in non-infected term children. In full-term infected neonates mean concentration of elastase was markedly (p<0.001) higher as compared to term healthy ones. 87% values of cord blood elastase measured in full-term infected neonates and 6% in preterm ones exceed the upper limit reference interval (209.3 ug/L) while 97% measurements in preterm neonates (all with and without clinical signs of infection) were within the reference range. We conclude that significant differences in elastase level in the cord blood depend on age of gestation at delivery. These age-dependent differences of elastase concentration can be taken into consideration and examination of cord blood elastase concentration may provide a valuable indicator in early diagnosis of sepsis in neonates. In full-term neonates cord blood neutrophil elastase is a good marker of infection.
