Abstract
Objective To investigate the effectivity of pentoxifylline (PTX) and immunoglobulin M (IgM)-enriched
intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in the treatment of neonatal sepsis (NS),
alone or in combination.
Study design This was a prospective, double-blind, controlled study. Newborns with suspicion of
sepsis were enrolled in the study. The patients were separated into four groups according
to treatment protocol: Group 1 = placebo, Group 2 = pentoxifylline, Group 3 = IgM-enriched
IVIG, and Group 4 = pentoxifylline + IgM-enriched IVIG. Blood samples were taken for
C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, neutrophil CD64 expression, and tumor necrosis
factor-alfa measurements immediately before treatment (1st day), and measurements
were repeated on the 2nd and 4th days of the therapy.
Results A total of 204 patients, 51 in each group, were recruited into the study. There were
no significant differences for symptoms of sepsis among groups, except lethargy. No
significant differences were observed among the groups according to laboratory data.
Overall mortality rate was 8.8%. The rates of morbidities and mortality among study
groups were similar.
Conclusion PTX and IgM-enriched IVIG therapies, either alone or in combination, did not reduce
the rates of morbidities and mortality in NS.
Keywords
sepsis - newborn - pentoxifylline - IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin