Activin A is a novel biomarker in early screening of neonatal sepsis

Abstract

Introduction: Septicemia is the common cause of neonatal mortality in the world, with a higher incidence in the developing world. As timely diagnosis and effective management is the best method to reduce complications, it is vital to find new biomarker like Activin A, to reach the diagnosis as early as possible. Materials and Methods: The study type was Analytic cross-sectional comparative study performed on 55 neonates distributed into two groups; study group, 30 neonates with sepsis and control group: 25 healthy neonates. We measured the level of Activin A plus complete blood count, C-reactive protein, and blood culture in neonates who were diagnosed by clinical examination while we measured only serum Activin A in neonates who were completely healthy and came to follow-up at primary health center. Results: There was a significant difference in the level of Activin A between septic and healthy neonates (4.89±2.85 and 1.61± 0.92 pg/ ml, P