Correlation between Neonatal Sepsis and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

Abstract

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains a challenge for neonatal care providers.Aim: This work was aiming to measure red cell distribution width percent (RDW %) as a marker for neonatal sepsis and to correlate it with other indicators and with a simple clinical scoring system for neonatal sepsis (Griffin score).Methods: This case control study was carried out at neonatal intensive care unit at Fayoum University Hospital and Abshawai central hospital . Ethical Research Committee Approval and written consents were obtained from parents of the neonates30 neonatal sepsis cases and 30 normal controls. Neonates were subjected to: History taking, clinical examination for manifestations of sepsis. Complete blood count, differential leucocytic count, C-reactive protein, Blood culture, RBS, and determination of RDW % were done to all neonates.Results: Our study showed that I/T ratio and RBS was significantly higher in cases than controls (p<0.001), but WBCs show no statistically significant difference among cases and controls. Moreover, blood culture was positive in 63.3% of cases only. Also, CRP was high in 76.7% of cases and 30% of controls (P=0.01) , and that the mean RDW % was higher among cases than controls (16.4 ± 3.8 and 13.7± 1.6 respectively) (P = 0.001), with further increase in preterm neonates . Also, there was a significant positive correlation between RDW level Griffin score (p=0.001). However, there was insignificant difference between RDW and WBCs or I/T ratio but high RDW level associated with raised RBS level of study group. Conclusion:RDW can serve as a marker and prognostic indicator in neonatal sepsis especially when used together with Griffin score.

Relationship between Neonatal Sepsis and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width

“…The range of RDW in normal neonates in our study is more or less similar to the values obtained by the authors Martin et al, [16]. Also in agreement with our results of RDW, Salim et al, [17] studied the Correlation between Neonatal Sepsis and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW), they found that the mean RDW was significantly higher in sepsis cases compared to controls (P = 0.001), also this finding was in agreement with Jianping et al, [18]who reported that RDW value of sepsis group (19.61±1.48 &18.35± 1.79 respectively) was much more higher than that of normal control group. Snehal L. Martin et al, [19] observed that RDW values were higher in the neonatal sepsis cases than those of the control group (p<.001).…”