To assess the frequency, causes, and clinical usefulness of the neutropenia in the first
month of life, a clinical study was made on 746 cases of newborn patients admitted to
the National Medical Center during a period of 2 years, from January, 1987 to December, 1988.
The overall frequency of neutropenia was 7.2% (54 cases). But, among gbabies
weighing less than 2500gm, it was significantly higher(13.2%).
Although. tere were no statistical significance, followin factors showed relativiely high
frequency of neutropenia : Pregnancy-induced hypertension(12.5%), intrauterine growth
retardation(11.4%), twin pregnancy(9.5%),toxemia(9.1%), oxytocin-in-ducted
delivery(11.4%), exchange transfusion(16.0%), umbilical arterial ratheterization(13.0%),
umbilical venous catheterization(13.2%), and controlled mechanical ventilation(11.8%).
According to the disease, divided by the evidence of infections, neutropenia were more
frequently found among the Infectious group(14.4% vs 5.25, p<0.0005). And the highest
frequency was noted in neonatal sepsis(18.1%).
Among 54 neutropenic cases, 23 cases had no evidence of infections. We could not
confirm any relationship between the severity of neutropenia and mortality rate or
duration of hospitalization.
From the viewpoint of neonatal sepsis, pneumonia and DIC were more frequently
complicated in the oases without neutropenia, and urinary tract infection in the cases
with neutropenla.

Keywords: Neutropenia, Newborn