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Total and differential leucocyte counts in infants at 2, 5 and 13 months of age
G J Bellamy1, R F Hinchliffe, K C Crawshaw
1Sub-department of Paediatric Haematology and Division of Child Health, The University of Sheffield, The Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK.
Insights
This study establishes reference ranges for white blood cell counts in healthy infants. Findings reveal distinct neutrophil and lymphocyte levels at 2, 5, and 13 months, aiding pediatric health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Immunology
- Clinical Pathology
Background:
- Establishing accurate reference ranges for leukocyte counts in infants is crucial for diagnosing various pediatric conditions.
- Previous studies may not fully capture the dynamic changes in infant hematology during the first year of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference ranges for total and differential leucocyte counts in healthy North European infants at 2, 5, and 13 months of age.
- To compare these ranges with existing data and identify significant age-related changes.
Main Methods:
- Venous blood samples were collected from 112 healthy infants of North European ancestry.
- Total and differential leucocyte counts were analyzed at 2, 5, and 13 months of age.
- Statistical analysis was performed to determine reference ranges and correlations between cell types.
Main Results:
- Neutrophil ranges at 2, 5, and 13 months were 0.7-4.7, 1.1-5.6, and 1.0-7.6 x 10^9/L, respectively.
- Lymphocyte ranges were 3.3-10.5, 3.4-11.3, and 3.5-10.4 x 10^9/L.
- Monocyte and eosinophil upper limits were established, with mean counts generally increasing between 2 and 5 months, then stabilizing.
Conclusions:
- The study provides updated reference ranges for infant leukocyte counts, indicating a lower neutrophil reference limit at 2 months compared to older data.
- Lymphocyte and eosinophil ranges are wider than previously reported, highlighting the need for age-specific hematological norms.
- Significant correlations between cell types persist from infancy to toddlerhood, offering insights into immune system development.
Abstract:
Reference ranges for the total and differential leucocyte counts were determined from venous blood collected at 2, 5 and 13 months of age from a cohort of 112 healthy children of north European ancestry. At 2, 5 and 13 months, the ranges for neutrophils were found to be 0.7-4.7, 1.1-5.6 and 1.0-7.6 x 109/l, and for lymphocytes 3.3-10.5, 3.4-11.3 and 3.5-10.4 x 109/l, respectively. The upper limits for monocytes at each age were 1.2, 1.2 and 0.91 x 109/l, and for eosinophils 0.84, 1.0 and 0.88 x 109/l, respectively. Mean counts for all cell types, except monocytes, increased between 2 and 5 months of age. There was little change in mean counts between 5 and 13 months. Statistically significant correlations existed between the numbers of each cell type at 2 months of age, and were still present at 13 months between monocytes and each of the granulocyte series and between basophils and all other cell types. By comparison with older data these findings indicate a lower reference limit for neutrophils at 2 months of age, and a narrower range for this cell type at both 2 and 5 months of age. Reference ranges for lymphocytes and eosinophils are wider than indicated by some previous studies.