Endotoxin-specific chromogenic assay for plasma in pregnant women, umbilical cords, neonates and children.

The concentration of endotoxin (Et) was measured by means of a new endotoxin-specific assay (Endospecy) in 15 paired samples of maternal and umbilical cord (UC) blood, and 38 neonates and 5 children. The Et levels in maternal and UC blood with normal pregnancy and delivery were 0.8 +/- 0.4 and 1.3 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, respectively. In some cases of premature rupture of the membrane, Et in maternal and UC blood was slightly increased. The level in non-infectious neonates was 6.7 +/- 5.1 pg/ml and that in children less than 10 pg/ml. However, patients with infections showed a high Et level, which decreased on antibiotic treatment. In addition, the pattern of the changes in Et in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not parallel that in plasma. Therefore, in perinatal high-risk babies, the probability of affection with endotoxemia should be considered, but the effects of endotoxin on the central nervous system are presumably indirect because of the low permeability of Et through the blood-CSF-barrier.