The Value of Serum miRNA-223 in Early Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is leading cause of newborn death and morbidity. As a result,
biomarkers that can either detect early sepsis or predict its fate are essential.
Objectives: to investigate the clinical value of miR-223 on neonatal sepsis diagnosis and
prediction of prognosis.
Methods: Ninety neonates were included in this case-control study divided into three equal
groups of matched age and sex. The sepsis group consisted of 30 neonates with neonatal sepsis
confirmed with positive blood cultures. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome group
(SIRS group) consisted of 30 neonates with clinical manifestations of sepsis but with negative
blood culture and the third group of 30 apparently healthy neonates. The relative serum
expression level of miRNA-223 was detected by qRT-PCR.
Results: The relative serum expression of miRNA-223 was significantly lower in sepsis and
SIRS groups than the control group (p< 0.001), in late onset sepsis rather than early onset
sepsis (P <0.027). and in non-survived sepsis patients than survived ones (P < 0.001).
Serum miR-223 expression could discriminate between neonatal sepsis and SIRS with 100% sensitivity, 85.3% specificity and 87% accuracy. It also could distinguish survived from nonsurvived neonates in sepsis group, with 90% sensitivity, 78.3 % specificity.
Conclusion: Serum expression of miR-223 may be a promising predictor for sepsis diagnosis
and outcome prediction among the high-risk neonates