Venous and arterial hematologic profiles of very low birth weight infants

Citation
M. Obladen et al., Venous and arterial hematologic profiles of very low birth weight infants, PEDIATRICS, 106(4), 2000, pp. 707-711
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics,"Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
PEDIATRICS
ISSN journal
00314005 → ACNP
Volume
106
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
707 - 711
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-4005(200010)106:4<707:VAAHPO>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Objective. In very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, diagnostic and therapeu tic decisions depend on hematologic values. As few data are available, we s tudied the course during the first 6 weeks of life. Design. Four prospective longitudinal cohort studies were retrospectively c ombined assessing hematologic profiles of 562 VLBW infants. For characteriz ation of red blood cells and iron, infants receiving erythropoietin were ex cluded. For characterization of white blood cells and platelets, infants re ceiving antibiotics were excluded. Results. The third (3rd)/median/97th percentiles on day 3 were as follows: hemoglobin: 11.0/15.6/19.8 g/dL; hematocrit: 35/47/60%; red blood cells: 3. 2/4.2/5.3 X 10(12)/L; reticulocytes: .6/7.1/27.8%; platelets: 58/203/430 X 10(9)/L; white blood cells: 3.6/9.5/38.3 X 10(9)/L; neutrophils: .7/4.7/25. 3 X 10(9)/L; ferritin: 27/140/504 ng/mL; iron: .8/7.5/26.7 mu mol/L; transf errin saturation: 2.6/22.7/79.8%. Transferrin saturation was <24% in 51%, f erritin concentration <100 ng/mL in 32%, and platelets <150 X 10(9)/L in 29 % of this population. The steady decrease of red cell parameters was mitiga ted by transfusions. Neutrophils decreased steadily, and were <1.75 X 10(9) /L in 35% at 6 weeks. Conclusions. Iron indices and platelet counts on day 3 and neutrophil count s at 2 to 6 weeks of age are lower than previously assumed in VLBW infants and lower than in larger prematures.