To evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of Interleukin-27 (IL-27) versus C-reactive protein (CRP) for neonatal sepsis.
Key Findings:
Pooled sensitivity of IL-27 for diagnosing neonatal sepsis was 0.82, significantly higher than CRP's 0.73.
Pooled specificity of IL-27 was 0.85, exceeding CRP's 0.76.
SROC curve analysis showed IL-27 had an AUC of 0.92, higher than CRP's AUC of 0.84.
Interpretation:
IL-27 demonstrates superior diagnostic accuracy compared to CRP for neonatal sepsis, suggesting it may be a more reliable biomarker for early diagnosis.
Limitations:
Only five studies were included, which may limit generalizability.
Variability in study designs and populations could affect results.
Conclusion:
IL-27 is a promising biomarker for the early and accurate diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, outperforming CRP.
