Table 3.

Independent effects of some perinatal variables on serum procalcitonin values at birth, at 12–24 h and 36–48 h of life.

Risk factor	Serum PCT values, ng/mL, median (interquartile 25th–75th range)
	At birth	12–24 h of life	36–48 h of life
Cesarean section	1.08 (0.58–2.02)	0.73 (0.26–2.02)	0.91 (0.54–1.51)
Membrane rupture > 18 h	0.67 (0.37–1.20)	1.32 (0.51–3.45)	0.96 (0.59–1.56)
Chorioamnionitis	18.61 (2.43–142.5)*	1.08 (0.14–8.15)	1.78 (0.54–5.84)
Resuscitation at birth	1.30 (0.39–4.40)	5.58 (0.49–63.17)	8.71 (2.40–31.57)*
Prenatal steroid exposure	1.84 (0.91–3.73)	0.58 (0.17–1.95)	0.93 (0.49–1.76)

Includes data of 169 asymptomatic newborns (group 1). Data are expressed as regression coefficients (95% confidence interval).

* P < 0.01.