[Acute changes in hematocrit: their effect on flows in the great arteries of newborns]

To study the effect of acute hematocrit changes on the central circulation of human neonates, pulsed Doppler echocardiography was performed to evaluate flow velocities in the main pulmonary artery (PA) and the ascending aorta (Ao) five and seven hours of age in 16 polycythemic neonates (mean hematocrit of 68.1%), and in 12 normal neonates (mean hematocrit of 57.1%). All the polycythemic neonates were asymptomatic and underwent isovolumic partial exchange transfusion between five and seven hours of age to lower their mean hematocrit to 51.3%. Flow velocity integral per min (FVI/min) (cm/min), acceleration time (AT) (ms), and the ratio of pre-ejection period to ejection time (PEP/ET) were measured on the PA and Ao flow velocity tracings. Despite the significant differences in hematocrit, no significant difference was observed in any of their flow velocity indices at five hours age between the normal and polycythemic neonates. All flow velocity indices remained unchanged between five and seven hours of age in normal neonates. In polycythemic neonates, PA FVI/min and Ao FVI/min increased significantly between five and seven hours of age, reflecting increases in flow in both great arteries, while the difference between Ao FVI/min and PA FVI/min decreased, suggesting a reduction in a left-to-right shunt via the ductus arteriosus. Moreover, PA-AT increased and PA-PEP/ET decreased significantly, suggesting a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance. These changes caused by an acute decrease in hematocrit resembled the changes in the central circulation previously reported to occur in normal neonates during the postnatal period. In conclusion, an acute decrease in hematocrit transiently accelerates physiological changes in the central circulation during the neonatal period.