Abstract

BAPTISTA-GONZALEZ, Héctor Alfredo et al. Variations in the differential leukocyte count from birth through the first two months of age in term infants with low perinatal risk. Perinatol. Reprod. Hum. [online]. 2014, vol.28, n.4, pp.198-204. ISSN 2524-1710.

Introduction: The presence of neutropenia or neutrophilia is observed in the evaluation of the neonate with suspected sepsis; however, its incidence has not been estimated in our population in the absence of systemic infection. Material and methods: A cohort of newborns at term, with low perinatal risk, were followed from birth to two months of age, leukocyte count, neutrophils (NT), and total lymphocyte (TL) were evaluated; the frequency of neutropenia at these ages was determined. Results: We included 110 infants; the mean values of the total leukocyte count were 18,950/µL (CI 95% 10,255-29,170); 11,250/µL (6,030-17,045) and 9,750/µL (6,055-17,900); total lymphocytes, 7,442/µL (4,736 to 11,326), 8,198/µL (2,625-12,559) and 7,478/µL (4,276-12,782); total neutrophil count, 7,818/µL (2,853 to 13,809), 2,112 (927-7,021) and 1,944 (737-3,618) at birth, one and two months, respectively. Significant neutropenia (< 750/L) was 0.9 at birth, 2.7 at one month and 5.5% at two months of age. Neutrophilia (> 9,500/L) was present in 35.5% of infants at birth, but in none in the first and second months of age. Conclusions: The presence of neutropenia or neutrophilia is a physiological change in low-risk infants. This fact must be considered when evaluating sepsis at this age.

Keywords : Leukocytosis; neutrophilia; neutropenia; neonatal lymphopenia.

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