PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine normal values for the peripheral leukocyte count and leukocyte indexes in healthy term neonates at a specific time after birth. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 193 healthy term-gestation neonates with no identifiable perinatal risk factors for sepsis. At 4 hours of age a blood sample was collected by warmed heel stick. An automated Coulter complete blood cell count and a 100-cell manual differential leukocyte count were performed on each sample. The differential count was performed by a single hematopathologist unaware of the clinical status of each infant. Perinatal factors were identified by review of the mothers' and infants' hospital records. RESULTS: The mean ratio of immature to total neutrophils was 0.16 (SD 0.10), and the 10% to 90% range was 0.05 to 0.27. The mean leukocyte count was 24.06 x 10(9)/L (24,060/mm3), and the 10% to 90% range was 16.2 to 31.5 x 10(9)/L (16,200 to 31,500/mm3). Neutropenia, < 1.5 x 10(9)/L (1500/mm3) segmented plus band form neutrophils, was not observed. Of all the perinatal factors studied, only the duration of stage 1 labor was found to be associated with significant elevations in the leukocyte and absolute neutrophil counts. CONCLUSIONS: Previously published normal ranges for leukocyte indexes in healthy newborn infants during the early neonatal period are too restrictive; reference standards should be broadened.
PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine normal values for the peripheral leukocyte count and leukocyte indexes in healthy term neonates at a specific time after birth. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 193 healthy term-gestation neonates with no identifiable perinatal risk factors for sepsis. At 4 hours of age a blood sample was collected by warmed heel stick. An automated Coulter complete blood cell count and a 100-cell manual differential leukocyte count were performed on each sample. The differential count was performed by a single hematopathologist unaware of the clinical status of each infant. Perinatal factors were identified by review of the mothers' and infants' hospital records. RESULTS: The mean ratio of immature to total neutrophils was 0.16 (SD 0.10), and the 10% to 90% range was 0.05 to 0.27. The mean leukocyte count was 24.06 x 10(9)/L (24,060/mm3), and the 10% to 90% range was 16.2 to 31.5 x 10(9)/L (16,200 to 31,500/mm3). Neutropenia, < 1.5 x 10(9)/L (1500/mm3) segmented plus band form neutrophils, was not observed. Of all the perinatal factors studied, only the duration of stage 1 labor was found to be associated with significant elevations in the leukocyte and absolute neutrophil counts. CONCLUSIONS: Previously published normal ranges for leukocyte indexes in healthy newborn infants during the early neonatal period are too restrictive; reference standards should be broadened.
Authors: A R Bedford Russell; A J Emmerson; N Wilkinson; T Chant; D G Sweet; H L Halliday; B Holland; E G Davies Journal: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed Date: 2001-05 Impact factor: 5.747
Authors: Stephanie Lynema; Daniel Marmer; Eric S Hall; Jareen Meinzen-Derr; Paul S Kingma Journal: Am J Perinatol Date: 2014-07-31 Impact factor: 1.862
Authors: Matthew Pettengill; Simon Robson; Megan Tresenriter; José Luis Millán; Anny Usheva; Taiese Bingham; Mirjam Belderbos; Ilana Bergelson; Sarah Burl; Beate Kampmann; Laura Gelinas; Tobias Kollmann; Louis Bont; Ofer Levy Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 2013-07-29 Impact factor: 5.157