Evaluation of mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 in late newborn sepsis in very-low birth weight premature newborn

Objective: Neonatal sepsis is the third leading cause of neonatal death, and low birth weight infants are more prone to sepsis than term infants. Low birth weight infants are particularly susceptible to sepsis and appropriate interventions are needed as early as possible to improve survival outcomes. In our study, we aimed to determine whether mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) and receptor-interacting protein kinases 3 (RIPK3) have a role as a biomarker in the diagnosis of late neonatal sepsis (GNS) in preterms younger than 32 weeks of gestation. Material and Methods: Our study was conducted prospectively in newborns diagnosed with late neonatal sepsis and not diagnosed with sepsis in Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It consisted of 45 GNS patients born before the 32nd gestational week and with a birth weight of less than 1500 grams, and 40 patients in the control group. Conclusion: In our study, a significant increase was observed in both MLKL and RIPK3 levels in GNS patients compared to control group patients. More studies on MLKL and RIPK3 are needed in the diagnosis of GNS in premature patients younger than 32 weeks of gestation.