Correlation of levels of α-defensins determined by HPLC-ESI-MS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with the diagnosis of pneumonia in premature neonates.

Chiara Tirone, Simona Boccacci, Rosanna Inzitari, Milena Tana, Claudia Aurilia, Chiara Fanali, Tiziana Cabras, Irene Messana, Massimo Castagnola, Costantino Romagnoli, Giovanni Vento

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolo in rivista

3 Citazioni (Scopus)

Abstract

The presence of alpha-defensins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was investigated in a cohort of preterm newborns with gestational age (GA) < or =30 wk. Specimens were collected during the first week of life from 24 preterm neonates mechanically ventilated. The studied population was divided into two groups: pneumonia group of nine neonates suffering from pulmonary infection (GA: 26.1 +/- 2.1 wk; birth weight: 787.4 +/- 309.9 g), with or without associated bloodstream infection, and nonpneumonia group of 15 neonates (GA: 27.7 +/- 2.0 wk; birth weight: 1019.0 +/- 319.8 g). BALF culture was positive for CONS (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 1), and Candida spp (n = 3). BALF samples were analyzed by HPLC-electrospray Ionization-mass spectrometer. The alpha-defensins 1-4 concentration, absolute and differential white cells count were measured. Relative amounts of alpha-defensins 1-4 and the absolute number of neutrophils were found significantly higher in the pneumonia group with respect to the nonpneumonia group (p < 0.05). Moreover, positive significant correlations between the number of neutrophils and the alpha-defensins 1-3 levels were observed. In conclusion, our data show that preterm newborns, also at the lower GA, are able to produce alpha-defensins, underlining that their innate defense system is already active before the at-term delivery date.
Lingua originaleEnglish
pagine (da-a)140-144
Numero di pagine5
RivistaPediatric Research
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2010

Keywords

  • premature neonates
  • α-defensins

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