Can single cell gel electrophoresis [comet assay] predict the outcome in neonatal sepsis?

Abstract

Background & aim : Early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is important for effective management and recovery. The available methods for diagnosis were not useful in predicting outcome. In the present study the technique of single cell gel electrophoresis [comet assay] which measures DNA damage was used to predict the outcome of neonatal sepsis. Material & methods : Comet Assay [single cell gel electrophoresis, SCGE] was used as a tool to assess the DNA damage in 3 5 term neonates with sepsis .The comet parameters were compared between those who recovered and expired due to sepsis neonatorum. Results were analysed using independent student t test with SPSS software version 19. p values <0.05 was taken as significant. Results : Comet length [174.57 ± 46.66|xm] and Tail length [ 114.63 ± 52.92p.m] are the prime indicator of DNA damage and were significantly [p < .05 ] higher among the expired cases when compared to the recovered cases [113.70 ±32.72 and 46.40±37.57 respectively]. Receiver Operating Characteristic [ROC] curve for comet length and tail length showed comet length and tail length are high. Area under the curve [AUC] 0.867 with cut off value of 140.06(xm [71.4% sensitivity, 85.7% specificity] and 0.862 with cut off value of 63.12(xm [85% sensitivity, 71.4% specificity] respectively. Conclusion: Weconclude that SCGE can be used for predicting mortality in neonatal sepsis.

Keywords

• comet assay
• neonatal sepsis
• predictor of outcome