Early postnatal C-reactive protein elevation during initial hospitalization in neonates with giant omphalocele undergoing delayed repair.

Introduction: To preliminarily describe the dynamic changes and clinical characteristics of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in giant omphalocele (GO) neonates with delayed repair during the early postnatal period. Methods: A retrospective study included 15 neonates with GO who underwent delayed repair at our hospital. CRP was collected at 0, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21 days after birth and before discharge. Data on hospital stay duration, complications, and anti-infection treatment were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to present the trend of CRP changes, and the relationship with clinical indicators was preliminarily analyzed. Results: Among the 15 full-term neonates (average gestational age 38.5 weeks, birth weight 2,821 g), CRP reached a peak value on the 5th day after birth (median 87.1 mg/L), followed by a decreasing trend but remaining at a high level (78.0, 67.2, and 48.0 mg/L on the 7th, 10th, and 14th days, respectively). The peak CRP level was positively correlated with the hospital stay duration (R = 0.78, Conclusion: Neonates with GO undergoing delayed repair exhibit significant CRP elevation in the early postnatal period, but this rise correlates poorly with proven infection. Clinicians need to carefully interpret the changes in CRP and avoid excessive anti-infection treatment. This retrospective study provides preliminary data and hypothesis basis for subsequent large-sample studies.