Age and sex-specific reference intervals for prooxidant-antioxidant balance, anti-heat-shock protein 27 (anti-hsp27), and routine laboratory tests in the middle-aged adult population

Pediatric reference intervals for hematology parameters in healthy infants and young children in Iran

INTRODUCTION

Defining accurate age- and sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for hematology parameters, especially for the pediatric population, is important for making an appropriate clinical diagnosis. To address gaps, we established age-specific RIs for 11 hematologic parameters in Iranian children younger than 30 months for the first time.

METHODS

Fresh whole blood samples collected from a total of 344 participants (males: 158 and females: 186) ages 3 days to 30 months, with a mean age of 12.91 ± 7.15 months, were recruited from healthcare centers in Mashhad, Iran. Hematologic parameters, including complete blood count (CBC), were analyzed on the Sysmex auto-analyzer system (KX-21 N). RIs were calculated with 90% confidence intervals using the direct method based on CLSI Ep28-A3 and C28-A3 guidelines.

RESULTS

None of the CBC parameters required sex partitioning. Of 11 CBC parameters, six required age partitions of 3 days-<4 months, 4-<10, 10-<15, and 4-<30 months. Five parameters (i.e., white blood cell count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean platelet volume, red cell distribution width, and platelet distribution width) did not demonstrate age-specific changes. RIs of red blood cell count and hematocrit, as well as hemoglobin, increased with age, while mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and platelet count, decreased with age.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we established RIs for 11 hematology parameters in young children. Age partitioning was required for six parameters demonstrating marked changes during the early period of growth and development and necessitating the use of pediatric-specific reference standards.

Age-specific reference intervals for liver function tests in healthy neonates, infants, and young children in Iran

BACKGROUND

The reference intervals (RIs) for liver function tests (LFTs) were determined in Iranian children for the first time.

METHODS

A total of 344 healthy pediatrics aged 3 days to 30 months old were recruited. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, direct bilirubin, and total bilirubin were measured. RIs were determined using CLSI Ep28-A3 guidelines.

RESULTS

All analytes demonstrated age-specific differences except AST. ALT and ALP demonstrated significantly elevated levels in infants 0 to <5 months relative to the remainder of the age range. Direct and total bilirubin demonstrated markedly elevated levels in early life with mean of 0.28 mg/dL and 1.64 mg/dL observed for direct and total bilirubin, respectively, decreasing by ~50% in the adjacent partition.

CONCLUSION

These novel data will help improve the clinical interpretation of biochemical test results in young Iranian neonates and children and can be of value to clinical laboratories with similar populations.