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[Erythrocyte indices and iron stores in cord blood]
I Diagne1, M P Archambeaud, D Diallo
1Laboratoire d'hématologie, centre hospitalier de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
Insights
Normal red cell values in cord blood are slightly lower than previously reported, even with iron supplementation during pregnancy. No correlation was found between red cell indices and ferritin levels in iron-replete newborns.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
Context:
- Established red cell values predate modern automated analyzers and widespread iron supplementation.
- Iron supplementation during pregnancy is now common, potentially altering neonatal red cell parameters.
Purpose:
- To reevaluate normal red cell values in cord blood considering current obstetric practices.
- To assess the relationship between red cell indices and iron status (ferritin) in neonates.
Summary:
- Analyzed cord blood from 159 neonates; 87% of mothers received iron supplementation.
- Mean red cell indices were slightly lower than historical data.
- Mean plasma and erythrocytic ferritin were 135 µg/L and 348 ag/cell, respectively.
- No correlation observed between red cell indices and ferritin in this iron-replete cohort.
Impact:
- Provides updated reference ranges for neonatal red cell parameters.
- Suggests that current iron supplementation practices may influence neonatal hematological values.
- Highlights the importance of considering maternal iron status when interpreting neonatal red cell indices.
Background:
Reevaluation of normal red cell values in the cord blood is necessary since these values were established before the use of automated analysers and the introduction of iron supplementation during pregnancy.
Population And Methods:
Cord blood samples from all healthy babies from Monday to Friday for 2 months have been analysed for red cell count and red cell indices, hemoglobin concentration, hemoglobin electrophoresis, serum and erythrocyte ferritin concentration. The results were compared for the mothers to age, parity and duration of iron supplementation and for the neonates to gestational age and birth weight.
Results:
One hundred and fifty-nine neonates were studied; 87% of their 154 mothers had been given iron during pregnancy. Mean red cell indices were found to be slightly below those of previous reports in the literature. They were associated with mean ferritin concentrations of 135 micrograms/l and 348 ag/cell for plasma and erythrocytic ferritin, respectively.
Conclusion:
There were no correlations between red cell indices and ferritin values in such an iron-repleted population.