Abstract
By setting out from increased neutrophil count, decreased lymphocyte count, and increased
mean platelet volume (MPV), which is a result of the effect of inflammation on blood
cells, we aimed to investigate whether neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLP) and MPV
can be used as an auxiliary parameter for the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal sepsis
(EOS). This study was conducted by analyzing term neonates with EOS and physiological
jaundice who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Izmir Katip Celebi
University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital. A total of 63 neonate files were
examined to include 30 term neonates with EOS, and 77 neonate files were examined
to include 30 term neonates with physiological jaundice as a control group. NLR had
an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.891 for prediction of EOS. At a cut-off level of
1.42, NLR had a likelihood ratio (LR) of 5.5, sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of
84%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 84.6%, and a negative predictive value (NPV)
of 87.5%. MPV had an AUC of 0.666 for the prediction of EOS and at a cut-off level
of 9.3 fL, MPV had an LR of 1.23, sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 32%, a PPV
of 55.2%, and an NPV of 66.6%. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that NLR
and MPV can be used in addition to conventional parameters in the diagnosis of EOS.
Keywords
neutrophil - lymphocyte - mean platelet volume - sepsis
