Respiratory disease and early serum S100A12 changes in very premature infants

Aim: The role of granulocyte‐specific S100A12, a marker for inflammatory disorders, in newborn lung disease is unknown. We compared postnatal blood S100A12 concentrations against respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods: Blood samples from 92 newborns were collected on admission, 12 h, day 1, day 3–4 and day 7, and analysed for S100A12. IL‐8 and IL‐6 were assayed in 52 infants. Results: Infants with RDS were significantly more premature (median 27 vs. 34 weeks), more likely to receive antenatal corticosteroids (84% vs. 26%) and have lower neutrophil counts (median 2.4 vs. 3.8 × 10⁹/L) at admission. S100A12 levels peaked during the first day and were significantly lower in preterm infants with RDS compared to those without (median 250 vs. 616 ng/mL at 12 h, 281 vs. 828 ng/mL day 1, respectively). S100A12 levels were low among the 35 very preterm infants (24–29 week gestation) regardless of the presence of BPD (285 vs. 288 ng/mL on day 1). In comparison, IL‐8 and IL‐6 levels were not different between groups. Conclusion: Plasma S100A12 is low in infants with RDS, possibly because of gestationally related differences in neutrophil response or to the effects of antenatal corticosteroids. It is therefore not a useful marker of BPD development.