Neonatal haematology in Zimbabwe. II: The red cell and white cell parameters
Mukiibi, J.M.; Nkrumah, F.K.; Kaur, M.; Pollard, R.; Akino, V.; Nhembe, M.
Central African Journal of Medicine 41(3): 76-82
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-9176 PMID: 7788674 Document Number: 443600
Red cell and white cell parameters were determined in 600 (310 male and 290 female) normal Black Zimbabwean neonates with a mean +- sd birth weight of 3.0 +- 0.4 (range 2,04 to 4,50, median 3,0) kg using a Counter Counter Model S Plus. Cord anaemia (cord Hb lt 13,5 gdl-1) was detected in 60 (10 pc) of the neonates. Although the male babies were significantly heavier than the females (p = 0,004), there were no significant differences (p gt 0,05) in the red cell and white cell indices between the two sexes. When the hematological parameters of the 540 (90 pc) non-anaemic (cord Hb gtoreq 13,5 gdl-1) neonates were analysed, the mean +- sd values which may serve as local reference standards were: Hb 15,2 +- 1,8 (range 13,5 to 19,4) gdl-1, Hct 47,3 4,9 (range 38,6 to 60,3) pc, MCV 107,8 +- 9,4 (range 88,8 to 134,3) fl, MCH 31,9 +- 3,4 (range 25,2 to 45,2) pg, MCHC 32,9 +- 1,3 (range 30,0 to 38,3) gdl-1, nucleated red blood cells 6,1 +- 5,9 (range 0 to 55) per 100 white blood cells, reticulocyte count 5,0 +- 1,9 (range 0 to 24,0) pc, total leucocyte count 13,8 +- 4,4 (range 4,6 to 132,8) times 10-9 l-1; differential count:neutrophils 7,30 +- 2,90 (range 1,72 to 18,02) times 10-9 l-1, lymphocytes 5,67 +- 2,47 (range 0,98 to 16,14) times 10-9 l-1, monocytes 0,81 +- 0,83 (range 0 to 5,58) times 10-9 l-1, l and eosinophils 0,08 +- 0,13 (range 0 to 0,72) times 10-9 l-1. Further analysis and comparison of the red cell indices total and differential wbc counts in 15 Black and 15 White Zimbabwean neonates matched for gestational age, sex and birth weight disclosed no significant differences (p gt 0,05) particularly in the neutrophils and eosinophils values of the two racial groups, thus strengthening our belief that African neutropenia and eosinophilia observed in adult Zimbabwean Blacks and in other Africans elsewhere in the world are not of genetic origin but rather acquired phenomena.