Effect of phototherapy on neutrophil VCS parameters and white blood cells

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of phototherapy (PT) on WBC parameters and neutrophil volume, conductivity and scatter (VCS) parameters. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, from October 2016 and January 2017. Methodology: Term newborns who had received PT for indirect hyperbilirubinemia were inducted. Total serum bilirubin, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, monocyte, lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil VCS parameters before and after PT were compared. Results: The mean age of the neonates at admission was 6.05 ±3.7 days. The mean gestational age at the time of birth was 37.44 ±2.09 weeks. The mean duration of PT was 46.37 ±17.00 hours. PT was associated with a significant increase in eosinophil (p=0.039) and basophil counts (p=0.034), a significant decrease in leucocyte (p=0.036) and neutrophil counts (p=0.031). There was no significant change in monocyte (p=0.79) and lymphocyte counts (p=0.93). There was a significant decrease in neutrophil volume values and a significant increase in neutrophil scatter values after PT. There was no effect of PT on neutrophil conductivity values. Conclusion: PT affects some WBC components and neutrophil volume and scatter parameters. There is a need for further prospective clinical researches on this topic before starting to use neutrophil VCS parameters in the diagnosis of sepsis.