Months Of Life In Infants Research Articles

Vitamin E-dependent anemia in the premature infant. I. Effects of large doses of medicinal iron

Description of a hemolytic anemia associated with vitamin E deficiency in premature infants prompted study of the relationships of medicinal iron, vitamin E, and hematologic parameters during the early life of such infants. A total of 186 patients categorized according to birth weight and gestational age were placed in study groups: (1) no iron or vitamin E supplement, (2) oral vitamin E supplement, (3) oral iron supplement, and (4) iron and vitamin E supplements. Significantly lower mean hemoglobin and serum vitamin E concentrations, with higher reticulocyte count and hydrogen peroxide fragility, were found during the second month of life in infants with a gestational age less than 36 weeks who were not receiving vitamin E. Hemoglobin values were lowest and reticulocyte counts highest in vitamin E-deficient infants of low gestational age who received supplemental iron. These observations suggest that therapeutic doses of iron increase red cell hemolysis during a period of vitamin E deficiency. Description of a hemolytic anemia associated with vitamin E deficiency in premature infants prompted study of the relationships of medicinal iron, vitamin E, and hematologic parameters during the early life of such infants. A total of 186 patients categorized according to birth weight and gestational age were placed in study groups: (1) no iron or vitamin E supplement, (2) oral vitamin E supplement, (3) oral iron supplement, and (4) iron and vitamin E supplements. Significantly lower mean hemoglobin and serum vitamin E concentrations, with higher reticulocyte count and hydrogen peroxide fragility, were found during the second month of life in infants with a gestational age less than 36 weeks who were not receiving vitamin E. Hemoglobin values were lowest and reticulocyte counts highest in vitamin E-deficient infants of low gestational age who received supplemental iron. These observations suggest that therapeutic doses of iron increase red cell hemolysis during a period of vitamin E deficiency.

A CASE OF AMAUROTIC FAMILY IDIOCY, WITH A SUMMARY OF REPORTED CASES.

This uncommon disease is especially interesting to ophthalmologists because of the fundus changes which are pathognomonic and because Warren Tay, an English oculist, first drew attention to the subject in 1881. From that time until 1896, when Sachs proposed the name as now used, each observer described his case under a different title. Amaurotic family idiocy is a fatal disease, commencing in the early months of infant life with muscular weakness progressing to almost complete paralysis, associated with a distinct symmetrical fundus appearance and terminating in death about the end of the second year. No definite exciting cause has been assigned. There is no evidence that inherited syphilis, consanguity of parents or any of the usual diatheses is a factor. There is, however, a marked racial peculiarity. In all but six of the recorded cases the disease has occurred in Jewish children. Both male and female children are affected. There