García-Graullera MG, Cordero-González G, Romero-Escriba AL, Guzmán-Moreno VA, Salinas-Ramírez V, Fernández-Carrocera LA

Language: Spanish
References: 9
Page: 155-159
PDF size: 123.49 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Anemia is the most common hematological complication among the preterm infants, therefore erythrocyte transfusions are a current standard of care among very sick babies. Ferritin is an iron storage protein occurring mainly in the cells of the liver and reticuloendothelial system; It is increasingly apparent that iron plays an important role in a variety of liver disease. Objectives: To determine the frequency of iron overload among the NICU patients, and its role in the development of liver disease. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective review from all clinical charts of preterm infants who were admitted at the NICU at the National Institute of Perinatology (INPER) and had received erythrocyte transfusions, from October 1999 to May 2002.Results: A total of 114 medical records meet the inclusion criteria, 54 were deemed acceptable for this study; the mean gestational age was 30 (± 3.0), with a birthweight of 1,442 g (± 672), there were 30 male infants (55.5%) and 24 female (44.4%), they have an hematocrit average of 36.4% (± 4.9), an hemoglobin levels of 12.4 g (± 2.0); mean of 3.0 (± 1.6) transfusions per patient, with a total volume of red blood cells transfused of 3,060.7 mL, with a mean of 73.4 mL (± 70.4) per patient. Ferritin serum levels were of 1,102.4 ng/dL (± 1,087). Liver disease was found in 27.7% (15) among patients with iron overload. Conclusions: The development of iron overload in the newborn is poorly recognized. The RCB transfusions are very common among NICU patients, and this may lead to a severe iron overload when we exceed three transfusion per patient. Thus, it is very important to reduce the number of RBC transfusions, and since we do not have deferoxamine as a chelant therapy, an alternative treatment remains to be found.

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