Kobayashi T, Iwatani S, Hirata A, et al. - Researchers conducted the study for focusing on the changes in serum IL-6 levels in newborns with early-onset sepsis (EOS). For this analysis, they examined 6 preterm newborns (23.4–28.2 wks’ gestational age) with birthweights of 570–1,080 g who were diagnosed with EOS. All newborns took active treatment, including exchange transfusions and/or polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion for septic shock. The changing pattern of IL-6 clearly varies between survivors and mortality cases. Findings suggested that serial serum IL-6 determinations in suspected EOS preterm infants will be useful not only for the diagnosis of EOS but also for the monitoring of sepsis severity.