[Globular sedimentation rate as an index of infection in the newborn]. / Velocidad de sedimentación globular como índice de infección en el recién nacido.

Sedimentation (VSG) rate was studied following the microhematocrit technique in 40 healthy and in 52 infected preterm infants complaining of gastroenteritis, bronchopneumonia, meningitis and septicemia. In healthy infants, VSG was measured at 3, 6, 9, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days of age and in infected cases, it was measured in the course of disease or during recovery. Increment of VSG was shown in healthy cases from 1.29 mm/1 hour at the age of 3 days up to 9.39 mm/1 hour at one month of age. In infected newborns, average VSG was higher than in healthy infants in every one of the days measured. In 8 of the infants with septicemia, VSG showed a marked rise followed by drop as the patients improved. At the end, comments are made on the usefulness of the method as and aid in the diagnosis of infection in preterm newborns.