Efecto del clampeo demorado del cordón umbilical en la ferritina sérica a los seis meses de vida: Estudio clínico controlado aleatorizados

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of early and delayed umbilical cord clamping on ferritin levels in term infants at six months of life. A randomized, controlled trial Background: Delayed umbilical cord clamping could increase iron stores and prevent iron defi ciency in in-fants. To test this hypothesis we measured serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels at six months of age in term infants who had participated in a randomized controlled trial, assessing the effect of cord clamping timing on neonatal hematocrit values and clinical outcome. Main outcome measure. Serum ferritin level at six months of age. Methods: Out of the 276 mothers and their infants that participated in the initial study, 255 (92.4%) were followed up to six months and included in this study. Of these, 86 had their cords clamped within the fi rst 15 seconds (early clamping), 83 at one minute, and 83 at three minutes. The pediatricians in charge of the evaluations during the follow-up period and personnel in charge of the biochemical tests were blinded to the assignment group. In all but 3 infants the ferritin levels and hemoglobin levels were measured at six months of age.