Abstract
The clinical usage of the WBC in the neonate has been limited over the years because of their wide variation. This report demonstrates a possible correlation between GA, BW, chronologic age and WBC. The 38 healthy newborns with differing GAs and BWs were studied on the 1st and 3rd day of life. A direct relationship was found between the difference in the WBC on the 1st and 3rd day of life(p<.001). The WBC were shown to be lower in infants with lowest BWs and this relationship was statistically significant(p<.001). Within the full term group, those infants who were small for gestational age (TSGA), also demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in WBC compared to infants who were appropriate for gestational age (TAGA)(p<.05). The results are:
The premature and SGA infants have significantly lowered WBC counts and this must be considered if this test is to be a valuable indication of clinical conditions in the newborn.
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Martinez, G., Bauer, C., Lorch, V. et al. INFLUENCE OF GESTATIONAL AGE(GA) AND BIRTH WEIGHT (BW) ON THE WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT (WBC) IN THE NEONATE. Pediatr Res 8, 405 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00392
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00392