Low levels of mannose-binding lectin at admission increase the risk of adverse neurological outcome in preterm infants: a 1-year follow-up study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the association between serum levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) at admission and neurodevelopmental outcomes in a group of Chinese preterm infants, observed prospectively, until 1-year of corrected age (CA).

Methods: All preterm infants used in this study were received from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of our Hospital between 1 January 2012 and 31 August 2013. Serum levels of MBL and clinical data were obtained at the time of admission. The influence of MBL levels on neurological outcome was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Clinical follow-up was performed at 1 year.

Results: The study cohort consisted of 175 neonates at baseline and 105 finished the 1-year follow-up. The mean serum MBL levels at the time of admission were significantly lower in children with adverse neurological outcomes as compared with children with no adverse [0.53 (SD = 0.09) μg/ml versus 0.80 (SD = 0.17) μg/ml, respectively; t = 8.342, p < 0.0001]. In multivariate analysis, there was an increased risk of adverse neurological outcomes associated with MBL ≤ 0.68 μg/ml [odds ratios (OR) = 12.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.31–30.32; p < 0.0001] after adjusting for possible factors.

Conclusion: Preterm infants who had low levels of MBL at admission are exposed to an increased risk of adverse neurological outcomes.

Keywords:

• Mannose-binding lectin
• neurodevelopmental outcomes
• predictor
• preterm infants

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Department of neonatal intensive care unit; the nurses and physicians who participated in our study; and the staff of the central laboratory of the Hospital. We also express our gratitude to all the parents and infants who participated in this study, and thereby made this work possible.

Declaration of interest

All the authors declare that they have participated in the concept and design and have approved the manuscript as submitted. All the authors have no conflict of interest in connection with this paper.