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Objective: To determine the factors associated with the procalcitonin levels in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) who received therapeutic hypothermia (TH).
Materials and Methods: The neonates, who had moderate/severe HIE and were treated with TH, were included. The neonates were arranged into 2 groups by procalcitonin (PCT) level after rewarming was completed. The neonates who had a procalcitonin level of < 2.5 ng/ml constituted Group 1 and the ones who had a procalcitonin level of ≥ 2.5 ng/ml constituted Group 2. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors related with PCT level.
Results: The first group included 123 (87.9%) neonates and the second group included 17 (12.1%) neonates. The median gestational age was 38 (36-39) weeks and the mean birth weight was 3081.7 ± 552.8 grams. In group 2, the rates for severe HIE, cesarean section, antibiotic switch, convulsion, inotrope use and mortality were higher, and duration of hospitalization was longer, whereas Apgar scores were lower (P < .05). The risk of a high procalcitonin level was found to be 6-fold (95% CI 1.9-19.1) higher in severe HIE and 5.2-fold higher (95% CI 1.7-16) in cesarean delivery.
Conclusion: In neonates with HIE/TH, high post-rewarming procalcitonin levels were related with severe HIE and cesarean delivery. Some other clinical and laboratory findings, which may reflect worse clinical status, were also associated with high procalcitonin levels.
Cite this article as: Okbay Güneş A, Bozkaya A, Avlanmis ME. Factors associated with post-rewarming procalcitonin levels in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2024;59(4):404-409.