The C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was determined in 25 infants whose mothers had presented with prolonged rupture of amniotic membranes (PROM) and/or amnionitis. CRP was positive (i.e. greater than or equal to 6 mg/l) within the first 6 hrs of life in 10 and negative in 15 infants. Clinically, all infants with positive CRP developed symptoms suggesting bacterial infection and both the absolute immature neutrophil counts as well as the ratio immature/total neutrophils were significantly higher in them on day 2 of life than in infants with negative CRP. Blood cultures were only positive in infants with positive CRP. Thus CRP can be regarded as an early marker for neonatal bacterial infection due to PROM and/or amnionitis.

Suppressor cells for colony forming cells (CFUc) were found in the bone marrow of 1 of 6 patients with aplastic anaemia. The assay applied was based on the fact that coexisting suppressor cells are more sensitive to dilution than CFUC, as long as adequate stimulation is provided by a source of colony stimulating activity. In the patient with suppressor cells, a 4 d trial of 1000 mg methylprednisolone per d failed to improve the blood cell production and had to be discontinued due to gastric irritation.

SUMMARY Fibronectin plasma concentrations were determined in 28 children with type I diabetes mellitus and 22 healthy children. No statistically significant difference was observed between the fibronectin concentrations in diabetic and nondiabetic children. Even in children with poor glycaemic control the fibronectin concentrations (glycosylated haemoglobin greater than 10%) were not significantly higher.