PURPOSE: Vitamin D plays a key role in immune function. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of infections, and low levels of circulating vitamin D are strongly associated with infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of low vitamin D levels in cord blood on neonatal sepsis in preterm infants. METHODS: One hundred seventeen premature infants with gestational age of <37 weeks were enrolled. In the present study, severe vitamin D deficiency (group 1) was defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <5 ng/mL; vitamin D insufficiency (group 2), 25(OH)D concentration ≥5 ng/mL and <15 ng/mL; and vitamin D sufficiency (group 3), 25(OH)D concentration ≥15 ng/mL. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the infants had deficient levels of cord blood vitamin D (group 1), 24% had insufficient levels (group 2), and 13% were found to have sufficient levels (group 3). The rate of neonatal sepsis was higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: There was no significant relationship between the cord blood vitamin D levels and the risk of neonatal sepsis in premature infants.
Communicable Diseases ; Fetal Blood* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Sepsis* ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Lethargy in newborns usually indicates central nervous system dysfunction, and many conditions such as cerebrovascular events, infections, and metabolic diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Nonketotic hyperglycinemia is an autosomal recessive error of glycine metabolism, characterized by myoclonic jerks, hypotonia, hiccups, apnea, and progressive lethargy that may progress to encephalopathy or even death. Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis is a rare condition with various clinical presentations such as seizures, cerebral edema, lethargy, and encephalopathy. Here, we report the case of a newborn infant who presented with progressive lethargy. An initial diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was followed by confirmation of the presence of nonketotic hyperglycinemia.
Apnea ; Brain Edema ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Glycine ; Hiccup ; Humans ; Hyperglycinemia, Nonketotic* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lethargy ; Metabolic Diseases ; Metabolism ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Myoclonus ; Seizures ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial ; Thrombosis*