Granulozytenfunktion bei Frühgeborenen ab der 34. Schwangerschaftswoche und bei reifen Neugeborenen

BACKGROUND Preterm and term neonates have an increased risk to develop severe bacterial infections. Impairment of neutrophil function may be responsible for this increased risk. Other diseases related to prematurity like retinopathia of prematurity (ROP) or broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on the other hand may be due to poorly controlled O2-radical production. PATIENTS AND METHODS Blood samples of 112 premature (34 weeks of gestation and older) and term neonates were analysed. Blood samples of 23 healthy adults (18 to 50 years old) served as controls. O2-radical production and phagocytosis of neutrophils were determined by flow cytometry, using a commercial test system. RESULTS Under the …