title: Automated determination of neutrophil VCS parameters in diagnosis and treatment efficacy of neonatal sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Coulter LH780 hematology analyzer can evaluate mean neutrophil volume (MNV), conductivity (MNC), scatter (MNS), and distribution width (DW). We sought to investigate the value of volume, conductivity, and scatter (VCS) parameters in diagnosis and treatment efficacy of neonatal sepsis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed significant increases in MNV, volume distribution width (VDW), conductivity distribution width (CDW), and significant decreases in MNC and MNS in septic newborns. There were significant decreases in MNV, VDW, and CDW, whereas MNC and MNS increased at the end of the treatment. Gram-negative sepsis caused higher MNV and VDW than Gram-positive sepsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the largest reported study seeking to determine cutoff levels of neutrophil VCS parameters in diagnosis of sepsis, and the first study in the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the effects of sepsis onset time and birth weight. We suggest that neutrophil VCS parameters and their DWs are useful both for early diagnosis and evaluation of treatment efficacy in neonatal sepsis without requirement for any extra blood collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples from 304 newborns, 206 in group I (76 proven and 130 clinical sepsis) and 98 in group II (control group), were studied on diagnosis, 3rd day, and at the end of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. istemihancelik@gmail.com
authors.forename: Istemi H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Hatice T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdeve
authors.forename: Ece
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Biyikli
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dilmen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome