HEMOGLOBIN AND HEMATOCRIT VALUES OF SAUDI NEWBORNS IN THE HIGH-ALTITUDE OF ABHA, SAUDI-ARABIA

A study was designed to determine the red cell values (hemoglobin and hematocrit) of neonates born in the high altitude of Abha and to compa re these values with known values of other lowland areas of Saudi Arab ia. From the cord blood of 587 normal, appropriate for gestational age and term infants born in 1993 in Abha Maternity Hospital, the ranges of Hb and Hct were 130 to 240 g/L and 0.24 to 0.79 L/L respectively. T he mean Hb was 187 g/L. There was no significant difference between th e male and female values. Also, 17% of the infants in this study were polycythemic, while no polycythemia was recorded in these lowland area s, and only 2% to 4% in the general global newborn population. It was therefore revealed that Abha newborns had higher red cell values at bi rth when compared to other newborns in the low altitude areas of Riyad h and Jeddah (P < 0.001). We postulate that the high altitude (2700 me ters above sea level) of Abha, and therefore its relative hypoxia, has induced high red cell values in infants born in the city. This phenom enon therefore warrants the adoption of higher red cell reference valu es and not necessarily those already documented in other Saudi newborn populations.