173 New Iron Status Parameters in Preterm Infants with Birthweight < 1500 Grams During the First Year of Life

Abstract

Aims: Preterm birth implies a risk of iron deficiency and anemia. Various parameters have been used to monitor iron status. New parameters include reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr), and percentage of microcytic (Micro%) and hypochromic (Hypo%) red cells. Various cut-off levels for CHr (< 26.0 and < 27.5 pg) for predicting iron deficiency have been suggested in children. Method: We included 29 preterm infants with birth weight < 1500 grams. Infant hematological and iron parameters; CHR, Micro%, Hypo% red cells and serum-ferritin, were recorded at corrected term, 2, 6 and 12 months. According to routine, iron supplementation was recommended from 6 weeks to one year of age. Results: Mean birth weight was 1063 (SD 300) grams and mean gestational age was 28.5 (SD 2.2) weeks. Haemoglobin level (Hb) and Micro% increased, while CHr level and Hypo% decreased from corrected term to 12 months. CHr was negatively correlated to both Micro% and Hypo% and positively, but invariably correlated to Hb during this period. No significant correlations were seen to s-ferritin for CHr, Micro%, Hypo% and Hb. At 12 months, 6/29 infants had a CHr < 26 pg, and 13/29 infants had a CHr<27.5 pg. Both values were associated with a lower Hb level and higher Hypo% red cells. Conclusion: We observed no significant correlations between serum-ferritin and Hb and the new iron parameters in this cohort of preterm infants. CHr correlated well with Hb, Micro% and Hypo% red cells and may be a better indicator of current iron status than serum-ferritin in preterm infants.