title: The effect of dexamethasone upon platelets and neutrophils of preterm infants with chronic lung disease.
abstract: The effect of a 21-day (reducing dose) course of dexamethasone upon platelet numbers, neutrophil numbers and neutrophil morphology in ventilator-dependent preterm infants with chronic lung disease is reported. Forty-one infants, who were sepsis-free throughout the treatment period, received 46 courses of dexamethasone. In these infants the circulating platelet count increased significantly from 235 +/- 157 to 476 +/- 208 X 10(9)/L. Both total neutrophil numbers (7.94 +/- 7.16 to 19.56 +/- 12.40 X 10(9)/L) and immature neutrophil numbers (1.19 +/- 1.22 to 2.68 +/- 2.58 X 10(9)/L) also showed a significant increase reaching a peak on day 7 of treatment and decreasing thereafter. The immature:total (I:T) neutrophil ratio remained essentially unchanged. Eight other infants who developed serious sepsis during the treatment period showed a fall in both platelets (293 +/- 236 to 140 +/- 170 X 10(9)/L) and total neutrophil numbers (18.61 +/- 10.83 to 15.76 +/- 10.53 X 10(9)/L), together with an increase in immature neutrophils (2.30 +/- 2.80 to 8.22 +/- 13.91 X 10(9)/L) and consequent increase in I:T ratio.
authors.affiliation: Newborn Unit, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourchier
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weston
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone