The value of the micromethod erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the diagnosis of infections in newborns.

200 newborns, gestational age between 27 and 43 weeks (mean 39 weeks) and a birth weight between 900 and 4600 g (mean 2600 g) were studied. 18 patients had severe infections, 20 topical infections, 11 had signs of infection but negative microbiological cultures, 26 had positive cultures but no clinical signs of infection, and 125 patients had no sign of infection at all. In the group without infection (125 patients), the micromethod erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MESR) raised slowly from 2 mm/h at birth (95% upper limit 8 mm/h) to 4 mm/h 8 days after delivery. The MESR of the patients with respiratory distress, asphyxia, intubated children and patients with umbilical catheter, who had no infection, did not differ from other patients in this group. In patients with focal and general infections, rapidly rising MESR within wide limits was observed. Thus, in the individual newborn a high MESR supports the diagnosis of severe infection, whereas a low MESR does not exclude this diagnosis.