Blood absolute monocyte count trends in preterm infants with suspected necrotizing enterocolitis: an adjunct tool for diagnosis?

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the trends of blood absolute monocyte count (AMC) over 72 h after suspecting necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

STUDY

DESIGN

A single center, retrospective study, the AMC was plotted over 72 h after NEC evaluation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed change in AMC to identify absence of NEC and different NEC stages.

RESULTS

In 130 infants, the AMC decreased in patients with NEC stage 2 or 3. Stages 2 and 3 NEC experienced a drop in AMC compared to an increase in no NEC, possible NEC, or positive culture (p < 0.05). AMC increase 24% or less can differentiate NEC stage 2/3 from possible NEC with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78. While decrease of more than 32% can differentiate stage 2/3 vs. possible or no NEC with AUC of 0.71.

DISCUSSION/

CONCLUSIONS

A decrease in AMC can be an adjunct biomarker to confirm the diagnosis of NEC.