Diagnostic Value of Umbilical Cord Blood Interleukin-6 Level in Premature Infants with Early-Onset Sepsis.

OBJECTIVE

Early-onset sepsis (EOS) is a serious, grave, and frequently fatal condition in premature infants. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in umbilical cord blood for identifying EOS in preterm infants.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted on preterm infants between May 2019 and April 2021. Based on the diagnostic criteria for EOS, the participants were divided into EOS and non-EOS groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of cord blood IL-6 levels for EOS.

RESULTS

The levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in the EOS group ( = 10) compared to the non-EOS group ( = 178) [617.5 pg/mL (323.3, 1579.8) vs. 49.7 pg/mL (15.8, 142.8), respectively; = 0.000]. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that a cutoff value of 250.5 pg/mL for cord blood IL-6 yielded a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 82%, and area under the curve of 0.876, with a confidence interval of 0.753-0.999, indicating its high accuracy as a diagnostic marker for EOS among preterm infants ( < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of IL-6 in the umbilical cord blood offers convenience and exhibits significant diagnostic potential for EOS in preterm infants, thereby providing valuable support for clinical decision-making.