Association between neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with ductus arteriosus patency in preterm newborns.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio and platelet indices on patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: PDA is a common problem with potentially serious associated morbidities in preterm neonates.

METHODS: Premature infants with hemodynamically significant PDA (n = 47) and a control group without PDA (n = 50) who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit were retrospectively evaluated. The characteristics, perinatal factors, N/L ratio, platelet counts and other platelet indices of the infants in both groups during the first 3 days of life were recorded.

RESULTS: Platelet counts were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (p = 0.0343). There was a marked positive correlation between body weight and N/L ratio in preterm infants with PDA (p = 0.0001). PDA was associated with low platelet count.

CONCLUSION: Our results showed that N/L ratio is positively correllated with body weight in PDA group. These data suggest that platelet counts and N/L ratio might be useful predictors for the early diagnosis and evaluation of the clinical course of PDA in preterm infants (Tab. 2, Ref. 28).