Neonatal capillary leak syndrome: analysis of 68 cases

Objective To analyze clinical features, treatment, prognosis and risk factors for death of capillary leak syndrome (CLS) in neonates. Methods This retrospective study involved 68 neonates with CLS treated in the Department of Neonatology, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University from January 2013 to December 2017. Clinical data, including features, causes, treatment and outcomes of those CLS cases were analyzed. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Among the 68 cases consisting of 49 males and 19 females, 86.7% (59/68) were born at ≥ 35 gestational weeks. Fifty-three neonates (77.9%) developed symptoms within three days after admission. Forty-two cases (61.8%) had respiratory distress syndrome and 35 (51.5%) had septicemia. The mortality rate was 23.5% (16/68). Among the survivors, 38.5% (20/52) showed abnormal cranial MRI. Univariate analysis with Chi-square test showed that neonatal death due to CLS was associated with the lactic acid level >10 mmol/L, oliguria lasting for 12 h or anuria for 8 h, no negative fluid balance occured within seven days, adrenaline infusion >0.6 μg/(kg·min) and administration of 3% sodium chloride. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lactic acid level, oliguria/anuria duration and the time achieve negative fluid balance were independent risk factors for neonatal death of CLS. Conclusions Neonatal CLS is a condition with high fatality rate and poor prognosis. Respiratory distress syndrome and septicemia are the common causes. The prognosis of CLS might be improved by treatment with 3% sodium chloride. Lactic acid level, oliguria/anuria duration and the time achieve negative fluid balance are independent risk factors for neonatal death due to CLS. Key words: Capillary leak syndrome; Death; Risk factors; Infant, newborn