Background and aims Gelsolin is an actin-binding plasma protein that has a protective role against tissue injuries. Studies of sepsis are shown that diminish of plasma gelsolin (pGSN) correlates with elevated circulating levels of actin and pGSN changes correlation with clinical improvement in septic patients. The aim of this study investigate pGSN’s importance in preterm infant with sepsis and related with mortality and morbidity.

Methods Thirty-one patients who were diagnosed with severe sepsis at neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled in sepsis group, twenty patients who were followed for prematurity were enrolled in control group. Plasma gelsolin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from whole blood samples.

Result The pGSN level at the time of diagnosis in the severe sepsis group was 33.98 ± 11.44 µg/ml, which was significantly lower than that of 20 nonseptic preterm neonates (60.05 ± 11.3 µg/ml, p < 0.001) and after treatment (53,38 ± 31.26 µg/ml, p = 0.003). Tollner scors in severe sepsis patients were 12.3 ± 4 and there were negatif correlation with gelsolin level. But, it did not detect correlation betwen postnatal age, gestational age, birth weight, gender and pGSN level in sepsis and control groups.

Conclusion Plasma gelsolin may be a usable marker for severe sepsis. Recovery of decreased gelsolin levels correlated with clinical improvement.