Diagnostic significance of serum levels of serum amyloid A, procalcitonin, and high-mobility group box 1 in identifying necrotising enterocolitis in newborns

Table 1 Comparison of baseline data between the two groups, n (%)

Parameter	Healthy newborns (n = 50)	NEC group (n = 48)	t/χ2	P value
Gender
Male	25 (50.00)	23 (47.92)	0.000	0.997
Female	25 (50.00)	25 (52.08)
Age (d)
≥ 6	23 (46.00)	24 (50.00)	0.038	0.846
< 6	27 (54.00)	24 (50.00)
Body mass (g)
≥ 2500	20 (40.00)	11 (22.92)	2.562	0.109
< 2500	30 (60.00)	37 (77.08)
Obstetric asphyxia during childbirth
Yes	22 (44.00)	30 (62.50)	2.663	0.103
No	28 (56.00)	18 (37.50)
Delivery method
Natural childbirth	25 (50.00)	23 (47.92)	0.000	0.997
Caesarean section	25 (50.00)	25 (52.08)

NEC: Necrotising enterocolitis.

Table 2 Comparison of laboratory examination between the two groups

Parameter	Healthy newborns (n = 50)	NEC group (n = 48)	t value	P value
WBC count (× 109/L)	16.57 ± 3.68	18.96 ± 4.25	2.970	0.004
Neutrophil percentage (%)	62.51 ± 5.32	68.25 ± 6.48	4.778	< 0.001
Lymphocyte percentage (%)	41.38 ± 6.27	34.63 ± 5.53	5.659	< 0.001
Platelet count (× 109/L)	210.75 ± 45.19	200.35 ± 38.57	1.227	0.223
Serum albumin (g/L)	30.64 ± 3.83	29.42 ± 3.69	1.608	0.111
CRP level (mg/L)	16.14 ± 5.08	18.75 ± 5.62	2.410	0.018
Haemoglobin	10.87 ± 1.54	10.36 ± 1.84	1.483	0.141

WBC: White blood cell; CRP: C-reactive protein; NEC: Necrotising enterocolitis.

Table 3 Comparison of serum amyloid A, procalcitonin, and high-mobility group box 1 between the two groups

Parameter	Healthy newborns (n = 50)	NEC group (n = 48)	t value	P value
Serum SAA (mg/L)	11.12 ± 3.52	15.67 ± 3.28	6.625	< 0.001
Serum PCT (ng/mL)	2.35 ± 1.15	4.22 ± 1.56	6.754	< 0.001
Serum HMGB1 (ng/mL)	54.54 ± 10.28	68.93 ± 10.03	7.012	< 0.001

SSA: Serum amyloid A; PCT: Procalcitonin; HMGB1: High-mobility group box 1; NEC: Necrotising enterocolitis.

Table 4 Correlation analysis of serum amyloid A, procalcitonin, and high-mobility group box 1 in newborns

Parameter	R	R2	P value
Serum SAA (mg/L)	0.560	0.313	< 0.001
Serum PCT (ng/mL)	0.570	0.325	< 0.001
Serum HMGB1 (ng/mL)	0.582	0.338	< 0.001

SSA: Serum amyloid A; PCT: Procalcitonin; HMGB1: High-mobility group box 1