Prognostic Value Of Whole Blood Count Parameters And Echocardiographic Findings In Infants With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of complete blood count parameters, presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and valve failure in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).Materials and Methods: 115 term newborns with Sarnat Stage 2 and 3 with HIE and 90 healthy newborns were included in this retrospective study. Echocardiographic examination, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), platelet distribution width (PDW), and C-reactive protein (CRP) values at the first six hours and at 72 hours after the cooling treatment were compared with controls.Results: There was a relationship between presence of mitral regurgitation (MR), aortic regurgitation (AR), and persistent PH and death. The mean RDW, PDW and CRP levels at the first six and after 72 hours were significantly higher in infants with HIE when compared with the control group, and these parameters were significantly increased in the stage 3 group. A significant relationship was found between the increase in RDW and CRP values and the presence of MR, AR and mortality.Conclusion: The degree of PH and presence of valvular insufficiency are important parameters in determining prognosis in HIE. Also, simple blood tests such as RDW and CRP and the echocardiographic evaluation are found to be correlated with hospitalization period and mortality and may be a guide in prognosis.