Hematologic Profiles of Ethiopian Preterm Infants With Clinical Diagnoses of Early-Onset Sepsis, Perinatal Asphyxia, and Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Objective. To determine the hematologic profile of preterm infants with regard to different diseases. Methods. A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study, conducted in 5 hospitals in Ethiopia from July 2016 to May 2018. Preterm babies <7 days of age were included and investigated with complete blood counts (CBC) and other investigations, accordingly. Results. Out of 4919 preterms, 3852 (78.3%) were admitted to a newborn intensive care unit, and of these, 68.3% had a CBC performed. The mean values of hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts were 17.9 mg/dL; 12 685 cells/mm3, and 159 340 cells/mm3, respectively. Early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) 1433 (37%), asphyxia 266 (6.9%), and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) 1738 (45.3%) were common reasons for admission. The WBC count was <5000 cells/mm3 for 8.8%, 9.0%, and 11.1% of neonates with EONS, asphyxia and RDS, respectively. The hemoglobin value was <7 mg/dL for 0.6%, 1.7%, and 0.4% of preterm infants with EONS, asphyxia, and RDS, respectively. The platelet count was <50 000 cells/mm3 for 16.8%, 17.7%, and 19.8% of preterms admitted with a diagnosis of EONS, asphyxia, and RDS, respectively. Conclusion. WBC and platelet counts were the most common to be associated with EONS, asphyxia, and RDS. Further study is recommended to determine the effect of abnormal hematologic profile on the outcome of preterm babies.

Serum Endocan Level in Preterm Neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

“…This is in agreement with Canpolat et al [18] who found an insignificant variation between both group as regards Hb and platelets count. In contrast, Tigabu et al [19] found that thrombocytopenia was found in 49.3% of patients with RDS, which is similar to research performed in Bellevue Hospital, USA and in India where they detected thrombocytopenia in 42% of newborns with RDS [20] .…”

Haematological Parameters in Preterm Neonates Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…Haematological measurements such as the Haemoglobin (Hb) level, white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelet count are frequently used to assess preterm neonates. It is said that these quick screening tests have good sensitivity and negative predictive values and are widely available (Tigabu Kebede Z et al, 2020). Several authors have noted variations in the hematologic parameters of preterm newborns according to gestational age and birth weight (Roudil P et al, 2017).…”

“…Sepsis and RDS were associated with a higher eosinophil percentage, which correlated with our study in the fact that the eosinophil count significantly increased with increasing birth weight in septic neonates and with increasing gestational age in neonates with RDS (Yang J. Y. et al, 2014;Peng CT et al, 1989). Prematurity is a risk factor for neonatal sepsis, which along with anaemia, triggers infantile respiratory distress (Tigabu Kebede Z et al, 2020;Christensen R. D. et al, 2015).…”

Clinical outcome and associated factors of respiratory distress syndrome among preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Adama Hospital and Medical College

“…11 RDS accounted for a preterm newborn death rate of 12.8% in Poland, 46.9% in Nigeria, and 45% in Ethiopia. [12][13][14] Another study reported that the preterm newborn death rate in hospitals in low-resource countries ranged from 40% to 60% and the majority have only oxygen therapy. 15 However, a case fatality rate of 100% in a community-based setting was also reported.…”