Evaluation of the relationship between microalbuminuria and early neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants

Objective: Early neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome lead to neonatal mortality in preterm infants during the first days of life. The objectives of this study were to identify whether spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio is an early diagnostic indicator of early neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Material and Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal analysis of 126 preterm infants born at less than 34 weeks of gestation. In this study, we evaluated serum concentrations of albumin, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP) and spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio on the first, third and seventh day of life. We also investigated the association of these parameters with early neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants during the first days of life. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio and early neonatal sepsis group in the first and seventh day of life (p=0.01). Urinary albumin/creatinine ratios were not statistically significant in the respiratory distress syndrome group. Serum albumin concentrations and spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio were not correlated during the first days of life. There was also no relationship between gestational age, birth weight and spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio during the first days of life. Conclusion: Our results suggest that spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio during the early postnatal period can identify early neonatal sepsis in preterm infants.