HYPOXIA AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN I NFANTS WITH CONGENITAL-MALFORMATIONS

In a longitudinal study the influence of hypoxia on hematological para meters and percentage of low density red blood cells (%1dc), determine d by the erythrocyte density test, and the behaviour for estimation of hypoxia by these parameters and arterial oxygen tension (paO(2)) were studied in infants with cyanotic (n = 40) and acyanotic (n = 42) card iac malformations. In contrast to healthy and acyanotic infants, chara cteristic differences of hematological parameters were found in cyanot ic infants because of their elevated erythropoietic activity. Relative ly high EDT values occurred in infants with paO(2) < 31 mmHg (< 4.1 kP a). In infants with cyanotic cardiac malformations and a paO(2) level < 31 mmHg, significant differences in EDT values between deceased indi viduals and survivors were found. Determination of percentage of low d ensity red blood cells can be used as prognostic parameter for follow- up and for estimation of hypoxia.