title: Effect of maternal anemia at high altitude on infant hematocrit and oxygenation.
abstract: Hematocrit levels were determined in 36 mothers living at high altitudes (3,750 meters) and their infant cord bloods to determine the effect of maternal anemia on the infant. The arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and respiratory rate of the infants were also followed during the first four months of life. There was a negative correlation between maternal hematocrit and infant hematocrit (r(s) = - 0.57). Nineteen babies born to anemic women (hematocrit < 41%) had a significantly higher mean hematocrit (59.9%) than those born to non-anemic mothers (55.8%; P = 0.003). The SaO(2) levels and respiratory rates of infants were not different between infants born to non-anemic and anemic mothers. At high altitudes, infants from mothers with anemia have higher hematocrits than those born to non-anemic mothers.
authors.affiliation: Asociación Benéfica Proyectos en Informática, Salud, Medicina y Agricultura (A. B. PRISMA), Lima, Peru. rgilman@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Cardich
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Escate
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strouse
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kabrhel
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galchen
authors.forename: Christian T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bautista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010568:Peru; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood*; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen