Diminished splenic function in asphyxiated term infants

The effect of birth asphyxia on splenic function has not previously been investigated. We performed quantification of pocked erythrocytes to assess splenic function in 10 term infants with abnormally low Apgar scores and clinical symptoms of birth asphyxia and in 10 healthy term control infants. The mean pocked erythrocyte count of the asphyxiated infants at day 1 (33.9% +/- 6.8 [SD]) was greater than that of the control infants (21.4% +/- 6.3) (P less than .01). By day 3 the mean pocked erythrocyte count of the asphyxiated infants (25.2% +/- 8.4) was still elevated but approaching that of the control infants (18.8% +/- 5.5) (.05 less than P less than .10). In summary, birth asphyxia was associated with an elevation of pocked erythrocytes and decreased splenic function.