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The Effect of Glucocorticosteroids on the Neonatal Blood Count
Author(s) -
WINTER J. P. DE,
BEL F. VAN
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1991.tb11827.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , pediatrics
. To investigate the influence of glucocorticosteroid therapy on the neonatal blood count, the haematologic data of 68 preterm and term infants, who had received single dose of 1 mg dexamethasone i.v., were reviewed. White blood cell (WBC) count and platelet count increased after steroid therapy. The increase in WBCs was associated with an increase in the number of neutrophilic granulocytes, whereas the number of eosinophils decreased. We conclude that glucocorticosteroids alter the neonatal blood count and influence its value as diagnostic marker for bacterial infections.