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Evaluation and Treatment of Anemia in Premature Infants
Edo Hasanbegovic1, Nermana Cengic1, Snijezana Hasanbegovic1
1Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Insights
Anemia in preterm infants, especially those born at ≤ 32 weeks, frequently requires blood transfusions. These transfusions are linked to an increased risk of intracranial bleeding in the first week of life.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Hematology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Anemia in preterm infants involves rapid hemoglobin decline, necessitating transfusions and erythropoietin.
- Physiological anemia in full-term infants differs significantly from preterm anemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine anemia frequency in preterm infants at University Clinical Center Sarajevo.
- Analyze blood count parameters and their relation to blood transfusions.
- Investigate the link between blood transfusions and intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study over six months in 2014.
- Included 100 preterm infants (gestational age < 37 weeks).
- Data collected from medical records at the Pediatric Clinic, UCCS.
Main Results:
- Two groups: ≤ 32 weeks (62%) and 33-37 weeks (38%).
- Significant differences in birth weight, APGAR scores, and mortality rates between groups.
- Infants ≤ 32 weeks showed a higher need for blood transfusions (18 vs. 3 patients).
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks have a higher likelihood of requiring blood transfusions.
- Early blood transfusions (first week of life) in very preterm infants are associated with an increased risk of intracranial bleeding.
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.
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