Evaluation of vascular and inflammatory parameters differences between transient tachypnea of newborn and pneumonia

Introduction In neonatal unites, transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) and pneumonia are the most frequent causes of respiratory distress. All patients with respiratory distress are treated with antibiotics at the beginning of the symptoms to prevent any delay in pneumonia treatment, because of the difficulty in differential diagnosis. So, new techniques are needed for differential diagnosis of pneumonia and TTN. In this research, we planned to explore the use of ET-1, PAF, CC16, SP-A, SP-D and NT-pro BNP levels in making a distinction between these two illness. Any modality useful in differential diagnosis will provide early diagnosis and treatments. Also, new therapies may be developed based on these informations. Material and method 70 neonates who were over born a gestational age of 32 weeks, were included to the study. 50 newborns hospitalized at Celal Bayar University School of Medicine or Moris Şinasi Hospital Neonatal Unit because of respiratory distress and 20 healty newborns are included to the study. Blood samples were collected from all neonates at 0-6 hours from the moment of admissions to hospitals. Samples are reserved for evaluating ET-1, PAF, CC16, SP-A, SP-D and NT-pro BNP. Samples were maintained at -80 degrees until the day of analyzed. Diagnosis and clinical features of the patients were recorded. Result Twenty five of the neonates included to the study who were diagnosed as pneumonia and 25 of them were diagnosed as TTN. 20 healty neonates create the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between TTN and pneumonia in gender, way of birth, birth weight, delivery week, gestational diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, iv Mg treatment during pregnancy, first degree relatives with asthma or atopy. There were statistically significant differences between these two group in way of oxygen supplement, being longer than 24 hours of EMR, Apgar scores in the fifth minutes, respiratory rates, blood gases, duration of tachypnea, duration of oxygen supplement and duration of hospitalization. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in plasma levels of ET-1, PAF, CC16, SP-A and SP-D. But levels of blood NT-pro BNP was statistically significantly higher than pneumonia and healty groups in TTN group. Conclusion In our study, ET-1, PAF, CC16, SP-A and SP-D are thought not to be helpful in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia and TTN. But, in the blood sample of NT-pro BNP levels were statistically significantly higher in neonates with TTN. We belive that, NT-pro BNP levels for final diagnosis of TTN, can be clinically useful in serial studies with larger sample size and blood samples collected in 0-6 hours.