Corrected End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide Closely Correlates With the Corrected Reticulocyte Count in Coombs’ Test-Positive Term Neonates

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Abstract
To evaluate clinical usefulness of corrected end-tidal carbon monoxide (ETCOc) measurements in healthy, term, Coombs' test-positive neonates and correlate it to the corrected reticulocyte count (RC). ETCOc and RC were determined (at 36 +/- 12 hours of age) in 50 Coombs' test-positive neonates and compared with the ETCOc values of 50 Coombs' test-negative neonates. Fifty percent of Coombs' test-positive infants had RCs 8% and ETCOc = 4.52 +/- 0.83 ppm. There was an almost linear correlation (r = 0.86) between the RC and the ETCOc among Coombs' test-positive infants. The 50 Coombs' test-negative infants had ETCOc = 1.6 +/- 0.45 ppm. Serial ETCOc measurements were performed in 14 Coombs' test-positive infants: in all but 1 infant ETCOc values declined over time. There is a good correlation between ETCOc and RC in Coombs' test-positive infants. ETCOc >2.5 ppm predicts a significant elevation of RC in 90% of Coombs' test-positive infants.