NEONATAL NEUTROPENIA IN LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT PREMATURE-INFANTS

Neutropenia, as defined by common reference values, occurs often in ne onates. Its incidence, causes, and clinical consequences have not been studied extensively in premature neonates. Of 208 consecutive infants with birthweight up to 2000 g, 121 (58%) had neutropenia. Low gestati onal age and low birthweight correlated with the incidence of neutrope nia. Less than half of the neutropenic episodes could be attributed to infections, the others were related to specific perinatal events and due to drug therapy or were of unknown cause. Neutropenia following tr eatment with certain antibiotics was the most common cause of neutrope nia occurring after the second week of life. The high incidence of neu tropenia in premature neonates raises questions about application of t hese reference ranges to low birthweight infants and suggests the need for new reference values.