All issues > Volume 16(6); 1973

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1973;16(6):451-478. Published online June 30, 1973.

Studies on Normal Values for Platelets, Total Leukocytes and Differential Leukocyte Counts of Korean Infants and Children

Joong Sik Kim

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

Abstract

1.The normal values of the platelets, leukocytes, and their differential counts were studied on 1102 infants and children from birth to sixteen years of age. 2.The platelet count is relatively low in the first 6 days of life, with an arithmetic mean of 240,000 ±140,000(2. S.D.). The rise in the count from the 6th to 8th day is reached to an arithmetic mean of 305,000±140,000(2. S.D.), which is maintained during the remaining first year of life. Thr oughout the remaining childhood period, the platelet count is maintained with an arithmetic mean of 270,000±130,000(2. S.D.) until 16 years of age. 3.Total leucocytes count is highest during the first day of life, with maximum count of 22, 678 per c.mm in the 1st 12 hours of age, after which gradual decline in leukocytes is continued with intervening slight fluctuations until 16 years of age. Total leukocyte count in neonatal period is similar to the data in Caucacean, while it tends to be lower in older age group than that of the Caucacean. 4.Total neutrophils, comprising of immature, band and segmented neutrophils, are markedly high during the first 4 days of life, after which significant decrease of neutrophils is observed with lowest count on one to three months of age. From 3 to 4 years, absolute number of neutrophils are maintained with a range of 3,000〜3,500, which is lower than the data reported in Caucacean. 5.Eosinophils are found with a range of 300〜500, and no significant variations according to age are demonstrable. Absolute basophilia is observed during the first day of life, after which no significant variations are observed throughout the remaining period of infancy and childhood. 6.Marked monocytosis in the neonatal period is observed also in this report, which is maintained during the first month of life. Thereafter, absolute number of monocytes tends to be decreased gradually. 7.Total lymphocytes are relatively low in the first few days of life. From two weeks of age, they rise to the absolute values over 6,000 and the relative values over 70 percent, which is maintained throughout the 1st year of life. From 6 days of age, the absolute number of lymphocytes are greater than the granulocytes. At 6 years of age, granulocytes become more numerous in number than the lymphocytes, after which lymphocytes tend to be decreased. However, no significant differences in abolute and relative values between granulocytes and lymphocytes were observed until 16 years of age. 8.The lymphocytes were classified into small, large and plasmacytoid forms, and the normal values for each forms and S/L ratio(small lymphocyte/large lymphocyte) in different age groups were studied. S/L ratio in 6 days to 9 months old age group was lower as compared to those of other age groups.

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