Dynamics of leukocytic blood parameters depending on the activity of inflammatory bowel disease in children

Aim: to establish the patterns of changes in leukocyte blood parameters to determine their diagnostic significance in the different activity of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in children. Materials and methods. 370 5-18-year children (198 boys, 172 girls) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were examined. Leukocytic blood parameters, concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), faecal calprotectin (FC) levels were determined. Changes in clinical activity in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) cases were determined using pediatric activity indices: PCDAI and PUCAI, respectively. Analysis of endoscopic activity in 160 CD and UC patients was determined using the scales: SES-CD and UCEIS, respectively. Results. It was found that with an increase in the clinical activity of CD in children, the absolute numbers of leukocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes did not change significantly. In contrast, a significant increase in neutrophil reactivity was noted. In patients with high endoscopic CD activity an increase in the absolute number of monocytes and neutrophil reactivity was found. In patients with high clinical activity of UC, an increase in the number of leukocytes and the absolute number of neutrophils was found. At the same time, the granularity and reactivity of neutrophils increased from remission to moderate and high clinical activity of UC. In children with high endoscopic UC activity, the number of leukocytes, the absolute number of neutrophils and monocytes increased. At the same time, the granularity of neutrophils significantly increased as the endoscopic activity of UC increased from remission to moderate activity. Leukocyte parameters in UC patients correlated moderately with FC level, and the absolute number of neutrophils was closely related to its content. The granularity and reactivity of neutrophils positively correlated with ESR and CRP levels in children with CD and CRP concentrations in children with UC. Conclusion. The established patterns of changes in the quantitative composition of leukocytes and their functional properties (reactivity and granularity) are directly determined by the different activity of IBD in children and have diagnostic value