Neonatal Polycythemia, Presentations and Associations: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background and objectives:Neonatal polycythemia is characterized by a venous hematocrit more than 65%. Incidence of neonatal polycythemia ranges from 0.4-5%, most affected infants have no clinical signs. Neonates may present by acrocyanosis, plethoric? cyanosis, respiratory distress, poor feeding or apnea. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of neonatal polycythemia, identify the risks and recognize most important clinical presentations. Methods:A case-control study conducted at the maternity hospital in Erbil city from 1st February 2013 to 1st May 2013. The study enrolled 500 neonates, among those neonates fifty-three of them revealed central polycythemia. The newborns were considered to be polycythemic if the venous hematocrit was greater than 65%. Results: In this study, 53(11.85%) cases were polycythemic, 30 cases were male 36 (67.9%) with male: female ratio was 2.1:1. Poly- cythemic of less than 2 hours of age were 25 (47.2%) cases, 10 cases (18.9%) were premature. APGAR score in the first minute was less than three in 15 cases (28.3%) and this was statistically significant. Plethora was seen in seven cases, 5 (62.5%) cases in group one and 2 (15.6%) cases in group two. Severity of polycythemia was significantly related to maternal hematocrit. Conclusions:Males were affected more than females. Jaundice was the main pres- entation followed by plethora, irritability, respiratory distress and poor feeding.