Differences in Haematological Profile of Preterm and Term Neonates: Lessons Learned from a Specialized Tertiary Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

A complete blood count (CBC) elements that are abnormally high or low can influence our clinical decisions. However, the reference ranges for the various CBC elements in neonates change considerably in respect to gestational age. A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted in collaboration between Department of Paediatrics and Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between July 2007 and January 2008, to compare the haematological profile of the preterm and term neonates. A total of 100 newborns (49 preterm and 51 term) of different gestational age were included in this study. Preterm babies constituted group A, while term babies constituted group B. Within 48 hours of delivery, 1 ml venous blood was collected from each neonate and sent to the Department of Clinical Pathology of the same hospital. Complete blood count (CBC) was done by using Abbott’s Cell-Dyn 3200 Automated Hematology Analyzer. In group A, 28(57.1%) were male and 21(42.9%) were female, while in group B, 26(51.0%) and 25(49.0%) respectively (p>0.05). In group A, 6(12.3%) babies had ≤1000 gm birthweight, 13(26.5%) had 1001-1499 gm, 28(57.1%) had 1500-2499 gm, and 2(4.1%) had ≥2500 gm, while in group B,  3(5.9%) had 1001-1499 gm, 10(19.6%) had 1500-2499 gm and 30(74.5%) had ≥2500 gm birthweight respectively (p<0.001). No differences were observed in total count of RBC, total count of WBC and platelet count between two groups (p>0.05). In differential count of WBC, leucocyte and lymphocyte showed significant differences (p<0.001). Heamoglobin level and haematocrit value between two groups also showed significant differences (p<0.001). Pearson correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation of gestational age with heamoglobin level (r=0.412; p<0.001) and haematocrit value (r=0.382; p<0.001). Our data suggest that differences exist in different haematological parameters between preterm and term neonates of different gestational age. 

CBMJ 2026 July: Vol. 15 No. 02 P:133-138