Vitamin D Status in Neonatal Pulmonary Infections: Relationship to Inflammatory Indicators

Ghada M. El-Kassas; Maged A. El Wakeel; Mona A. Elabd; Alyaa H. Kamhawy; Mohamed Abdel Atti; Shereen A. Abd El-Gaffar; Salwa Kamal Hanafy; Eman Awadallah

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.592

Authors

Ghada M. El-Kassas Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Maged A. El Wakeel Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Mona A. Elabd Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Alyaa H. Kamhawy Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Mohamed Abdel Atti Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Shereen A. Abd El-Gaffar Pediatric Department, Banha Teaching Hospital, Banha, Egypt
Salwa Kamal Hanafy Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, El-Galaa Maternity Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
Eman Awadallah Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.592

Keywords:

Vitamin D, Pneumonia, Neonates, Pentraxin 3

Abstract

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D concentrations among neonates with pneumonia.

METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 33 neonates with pneumonia in addition to 30 healthy controls. CBC, CRP, Serum vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 levels were measured for all participants.

RESULTS: There was significant difference between patients and controls regarding Hemoglobin levels, TLC and CRP (p value < 0.01, = 0.002, < 0.01 respectively). Patients with pneumonia showed significant lower levels of Vit. D (9 Â± 2.1) compared to controls (14.1 Â± 2.8), P value < 0.01. However, patient group had significant higher levels of Pentraxin 3 (29.1 Â± 4.8) compared with controls (12.6 Â± 3), P value < 0.01. Moreover, mechanically ventilated patients revealed significant lower vit D (7.7 Â± 1.8) and higher pentraxin 3 (32.2 Â± 2.6) compared to patients on free oxygen (9.1 Â± 2.1, 26.4 Â± 3.7 respectively), P value = 0.05, 0.02 respectively. Regarding hospital stay, it had significant positive correlation with serum pentraxin 3 (r = 0.6, P value < 0.01) and significant negative correlation with serum vit D (r = -0.4, P value = 0.04). Finally a significant negative correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 was found (r = -0.4, P value = 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Lower concentration of serum vitamin D may be significantly associated with neonatal pneumonia. It also can predict the need for mechanical ventilation and duration of hospital stay in neonatal pneumonia. Similarly, higher levels of Pentraxin 3 may be used as an indicator for mechanical ventilation need and a longer hospital stay in neonates with pneumonia.