Markedly raised levels of C-reactive protein are associated with culture-proven sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis in extremely preterm neonates.

AIM: A serious inflammatory process is suspected when C-reactive protein (CRP) is very high, and we established the causes and outcomes when CRP was >100 mg/L in neonates.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all 277 episodes where CRP exceeded 100 mg/L between January 2007 and December 2011 at a tertiary neonatal unit.

RESULTS: Of the 6025 neonates admitted during the study period, 258 had CRP >100 mg/L at least once. The overall mortality rate was 44/258 (17%); 36 died within 7 days of CRP >100 mg/L, and 34 were extremely preterm infants. CRP exceeded 100 mg/L in 106 infants within the first 3 days of life - 74 term, 25 preterm and seven extremely preterm - with no infection identified in 81%. In contrast, infections were found in 87% of the 171 episodes from day four of life - 129 extremely preterm, 23 preterm and 19 term - predominantly coagulase-negative staphylococcus sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis.

CONCLUSION: Markedly elevated CRP in the first 3 days of life was most likely to affect term neonates (74/106) with no infectious cause (81%). However, CRP >100 mg/L from the fourth day of life was most likely to affect extremely preterm neonates (129/171) and have an infectious cause (87%).