IMMUNOHEMATOLOGICAL MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION IN FULL-TERM NEWBORNS WITH CONGENITAL PNEUMONIA

Abstract

Relevance. Congenital pneumonia (СP) remains one of the most severe forms of perinatal infection, exerting a significant impact on neonatal morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 7 million children in early infancy suffer annually from the consequences of intrauterine infection, with more than 600,000 cases resulting in death during the neonatal and infant periods. The purpose . To assess the diagnostic value of leukocyte profile parameters in umbilical cord blood of newborns with intrauterine pneumonia. Materials and Methods. A prospective study was conducted involving 81 full-term newborns (gestational age 37–42 weeks), including 61 infants diagnosed with СP (main group) and 20 healthy newborns (control group). Umbilical cord blood samples were collected within the first hours of life to determine absolute leukocyte and lymphocyte counts. Statistical analysis included calculation of mean values, standard deviations, correlation coefficients (r), and significance levels (p). Results. Significant alterations in leukocyte profiles were observed in newborns with СP. The mean leukocyte count was 14.77 ± 0.512 × 10⁹/L, markedly higher than in the control group (9.87 ± 1.317 × 10⁹/L). A similar trend was noted for lymphocytes: 6.02 ± 0.719 × 10⁹/L versus 1.56 ± 0.361 × 10⁹/L. A moderate positive correlation was found between leukocyte and lymphocyte counts (r = 0.59; p < 0.05), indicating synchronized activation of the innate immune response. Peak levels were recorded on the third day of life. Conclusion. The leukocyte profile of umbilical cord blood serves as a valuable marker of inflammatory activity in СP and can be utilized for early immunological monitoring in newborns.