[Dynamics in levels of procalcitonin in healthy term newborns during the first 24 hours of life].

Unlabelled: Procalcitonin /PCT/ is a reliable marker for the diagnosis of early onset neonatal sepsis but its sensitivity and specificity in literature vary widely mostly due to existing unclarity on its normal values and kinetics in the postnatal period. Aim of our research is to study the normal values of PCT and its dynamics during the first 24 hours of life for the Bulgarian population.

Materials & Methods: 70 healthy neonates were prospectively enrolled and separated in the following 3 groups (Group 1- immediately afterbirth; Group 2- 0-12 h afterbirth; Group 3- 12-24 h afterbirth) regarding the age at the time of PCT testing.