Normal lymphocyte subgroup values in neonatal healthy children

Background and aim: In order to clinically diagnose a disease, follow up after diagnosis and to evaluate laboratory results, there should be medical reference intervals. In our study; lymphocyte subset values in term, healthy, newborn infants who born in Sakarya, Turkey is studied in order to contribute to the determination of normal values of Turkish newborns. Materials and Methods: In our study, 54 healthy term newborn babies between the 39-41 weeks of gestation and with APGAR score ≥8 in the 1st and 5th minutes were included. Lymphocyte subgroups were measured by flow cytometry from the venous blood sample drawn between days 15th and 21st of life. The babies who included in the study, there was no history of congenital disease and anomaly, history of perinatal infection, history of being twins, history of transfusion and maternal chronic disease. The results were evaluated whether there was a significant difference between the results depending on the delivery, diet, gender types and demographic characteristics of the babies. Results: This study was conducted with the participation of 54 babies, 31 (%57) of them were male and 23 (%43) were female. Delivery method of 37 (69%) babies was cesarian delivery and 17 (31%) were spontaneous vaginal delivery. While 39 (72%) of the babies were fed only with breast milk, 15 (28%) were fed with formula and breast milk. According to the results obtained; 95% confidence interval of absolute and percentage values for lymphocyte subgroups as follows, respectively; CD3+-T lymphocyte: 4140-4810 (%73.3-77), CD4+-T lymphocyte: 3040-3500, (%53.457.4), CD8+-T lymphocyte: 1140-1410 (%19.7-22.6), CD4/CD8 ratio: 2.5-3.3, CD19+-B lymphocytes: 690-936 (%11.9-15), CD16/56+-NK cells: 415-566 (%7.2-9.2). While no significant correlation was found between the type of delivery, gender and diet and lymphocyte subgroups. When the correlation of lymphocyte subgroup values with demographic characteristics was examined, it was seen that there was a positive, weak and statistically significant correlation with the head circumference at birth and the percentage of CD8+-T lymphocytes, and there was a negative, weak and statistically significant correlation between the final body weight and the percentage of CD16/56+-NK cells. Conclusion: Our study provided usable data on the normal reference values of lymphocyte subsets and the changes in the values obtained depending on gender, feeding types and delivery methods for healthy newborns. It is thought to be one of the reliable reference sources unique to our country.