Lactoferrin in relation to acute phase proteins in sera from newborn infants with severe infections.

Serum lactoferrin concentrations were elevated in 22 out of 49 newborn infants with suspected and verified severe bacterial as well as viral infections, suggesting that this protein resembled an acute phase reactant. In the infants suspected of having septicemia, high concentrations of C-reactive protein appeared to indicate a severe bacterial infection. Like lactoferrin, however, haptoglobin, orosomucoid, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin discriminated only poorly or not at all between infants with severe bacterial infections and those in which such infections were unlikely. Thus, serum CRP concentrations remained the most valuable of the acute phase reactants tested as an aid in ruling out septicemia in the neonatal period.