Evaluation and Treatment of Anemia in Premature Infants

Abstract

Introduction:Anemia in preterm infants is the pathophysiological process with greater and more rapid decline in hemoglobin compared to the physiological anemia in infants. There is a need for transfusions and administration of human recombinant erythropoietin.Aim:To determine the frequency of anemia in premature infants at the Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center Sarajevo, as well as parameter values in the blood count of premature infants and to explore a relationship between blood transfusions with the advent of intraventricular hemorrhage (determine treatment outcome in preterm infants).Patients and methods:Research is retrospective study and it included the period of six months in year 2014. Research included 100 patients, gestational age < 37 weeks (premature infants). Data were collected by examining the medical records of patients at the Pediatric Clinic, UCCS.Results:The first group of patients were premature infants of gestational age ≤ 32 weeks (62/100) and the second group were premature infants of gestational age 33-37 weeks (38/100). Among the patients, 5% were boys and 46% girls. There was significant difference in birth weight and APGAR score among the groups. In the first group, there were 27.42% of deaths, while in the second group, there were only 10.53% of deaths. There was a significant difference in the length of treatment. There was a statistically significant difference in the need for transfusion among the groups. 18 patients in the first group required a transfusion, while in the second group only 3 patients.Conclusions:Preterm infants of gestational age ≤ 32 weeks are likely candidates for blood transfusion during treatment. Preterm infants of gestational age ≤ 32 weeks have the risk of intracranial bleeding associated with the application of blood transfusion in the first week of life.

Epidemiology, treatment and outcomes of anemia in premature newborn babies in Centre Hospitalierd’Essos, Yaounde, Cameroon.

“…Admission duration was longer in the transfused group, a similar result with Jeon et al in 2013 in Korea [9].Complications during were more frequent in the transfused group, a result parallel to that of Banerje et al in 2015 in England [19].The overall mortality rate was 21.13% with a higher rate in the transfused group (12.68% vs. 8.45%) but not significant. This result is similar to those obtained by Hasenbegovic et al in 2010 in Bosnia [20] and Dick-Amon et al in 2014 in Côte d'Ivoire [14], which found 21% and 26% of the mortality rate respectively.…”

Packed Cell Transfusion and Feeding Tolerance in Healthy Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The reduced iron storage of preterm neonates at the time of birth, inability to breastfeed the infant within the first days or weeks of life, frequent blood sampling, and decreased level of erythropoietin (leading to anemia) are associated with frequent PCT during the hospitalization of premature infants (12). Although PCT is a lifesaving treatment, it can cause some complications for the newborn.…”

Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Tertiary Hospital

“…Preterm infants typically undergo numerous laboratory testing that require phlebotomy which may contribute to blood loss. (41) RBC transfusion is given to preterm infants if deemed necessary with the goal of increasing oxygen transport to the organs. (42) This study found non-significant relation between RBC transfusion and ROP with p=0.881.…”