DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2020.1.45
Zhuravleva L.N.
The significance of the cathelicidin LL-37 level in blood serum and tracheobronchial aspirate in respiratory distress syndrome and congenital pneumonia in premature newborns
Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2020;19(1):45-52.
Abstract.
Pathology of the respiratory system is one of the major causes of morbidity in newborns, especially among the group of premature infants. And one of its severest manifestations is congenital pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
Objectives. To determine the cathelicidin LL - 37 level in blood serum and aspirate from the trachea in premature infants for the prediction of complications development in respiratory disorders.
Material and methods. We observed 43 newborns with respiratory disorders (25 children with congenital pneumonia and 18 children with respiratory distress syndrome), the comparison group consisted of 20 “almost healthy” newborns without any pathology of the respiratory tract. All children with respiratory disorders were premature, with the gestational age of 28-36 weeks, birth weight of 870-2280 grams and the length of 37 - 45 cm.
Results. The cathelicidin LL - 37 level in blood serum on the 1st-2nd day of life was significantly higher in children with respiratory disorders than in those from the comparison group (1.6 [0.8-2.3]), the highest concentration being observed in children with congenital pneumonia (3.54 [2.48-4.87]). The cathelicidin concentration on the 10th -14th day of research was significantly higher in children with congenital pneumonia (p<0.001) than in premature infants without any respiratory diseases and higher than in children with RDS (p<0.001). We have revealed a reliable (p<0.05) positive correlation between the level of cathelicidin LL - 37 in the tracheal aspirate (TA) on the 1st-2nd day of life and the duration of artificial lung ventilation (ALV) (R=0.4; p=0.001), antibiotic therapy (R=0.25, p=0.003). We have also determined that the cathelicidin LL -37 level of 6.2 ng / ml in the tracheal aspirate of preterm infants can serve as a diagnostic criterion of the prognostically long and complicated course of the disease.
Key words: newborns, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, immune status, cathelicidin LL-37.
The author expresses her gratitude to the research officer of the Research Laboratory Khotetovskaya Zh. V. for the help provided while conducting laboratory investigations.
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Information about authors:
Zhuravleva L.N. – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Pediatrics, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University.
Correspondence address: Republic of Belarus, 210009, Vitebsk, 27 Frunze ave., Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Chair of Pediatrics. E-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра. – Lyudmila N. Zhuravleva.
