Reduced mortality and increased BPD with histological chorioamnionitis and leukocytosis in very-low-birth-weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between leukocytosis, mortality and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBW) born to mothers with histological chorioamnionitis.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study from a single level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. The study sample included infants born to mothers with histological chorioamnionitis (n=252). Total white blood cells (WBCs) after birth were measured. Leukocytosis was defined as a total WBC count >30 000 per mm(3) in the first 2 days of life. Outcomes investigated included BPD and death. Both unadjusted and multivariable analyses were carried out.


RESULTS
After controlling for potential confounding variables, infants who developed a leukocytosis after birth had increased odds of BPD (4.6, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.0 to 10.3), but decreased odds of death (0.3, 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.90).


CONCLUSIONS
In our population of VLBW infants born to mothers with histological chorioamnionitis, leukocytosis after birth is associated with a decrease in mortality but an increase in BPD.
Paul
D A
DA
Department of Pediatrics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE 19713, USA. dpaul@christianacare.org
Zook
K
K
Mackley
A
A
Locke
R G
RG
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors