Polycythemia in the newborn.
Polycythemia is defined as a venous hematocrit of over 65%. The hematocrit in a newborn peaks at 2 hours of age and decreases gradually after that. The etiology of polycythemia is related either to intra-uterine hypoxia or secondary to fetal transfusion. The relationship between hematocrit and viscosity is almost linear till 65% and exponential thereafter. Increased viscosity of blood is associated with symptoms of hypo-perfusion. Clinical features related to polycythemia-hyperviscosity syndrome may affect all organ systems and this entity should be screened for in high-risk infants. Polycythemia may or may not be symptomatic and guidelines for management of both the types based on the current evidence are provided in the protocol.
Jeevasankar
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research in Newborn Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
Agarwal
Ramesh
R
Chawla
Deepak
D
Paul
Vinod K
VK
Deorari
Ashok K
AK
D001809:Blood Viscosity; D003102:Colloids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006400:Hematocrit; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
D003102:Colloids; D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D007552:Isotonic Solutions