Hematological Parameters in Premature Newborns with Respect to their Gestational Age

摘要

In this study, the hematological parameters of premature infants were investigated with respect to their gestational ages. Sixtyseven neonates with gestational ages between 24 - 36 weeks who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with a diagnosis of prematurity and low birth weight were enrolled in the study. During the first five days of their admission, venous blood sampled from a peripheral vein was analysed for a complete blood count analysis (CBC) using an automated counter. The infants were divided into four groups with respect to their gestational ages. The hematological parameters analysed in this study were white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit value (Hct), platelet count (Pit), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and platelet distribution width (PDW). No statistically significant differences were found among the four groups with respect to any of the six hematological parameters analysed. Every NICU should determine their own hematological reference values, taking care into their patient profiles and laboratory technologies.