Reduction of absolute monocyte counts is associated with the severity of preterm necrotizing enterocolitis.

The mean value for AMC increased linearly between 22 and 42 weeks of gestation and showed a trend of first increase and then reduction within one month after birth. 19 Studies have shown that the normal reference range of monocytes on the day of birth of full-term infants is 0.3–3.3 × 10 9 /L. 19 Monocytosis is associated with lower mean birth weight and gestational age, leukocytosis, multiple transfusions, albumin transfusions, theophylline therapy 20 and intrauterine infections such as candidiasis and syphilis. 21 , 22 Interestingly, the decline of monocytes may be a unique feature of NEC.

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