Haematocrit and red blood cell transport in preterm infants: an observational study
P Pladysa, A Beuchéea, E Wodeyb, L Tisona, P Bétrémieuxa
a Department of
Paediatrics, Neonatal Unit, University Hospital, 35033 Rennes Cedex 09, France, b Department of Anesthesiology and
Intensive Care 2, University Hospital
Correspondence to: Dr P Pladys, Unité de Réanimation Pédiatrique, Pavillon Le Chartier, CHU Pontchaillou, 35033 Rennes Cedex 09, France email: patrick.pladys{at}universal.fr
Accepted 28 October
1999
AIMS
To test whether
cardiac output acts as a compensatory response to changes in haematocrit.
METHODSA cohort of 38 preterm infants (27-31 weeks' gestation) was studied with repeated
Doppler measurements of left ventricular output during the 1st month of
life. Red blood cell transport was calculated when the duct was closed.
RESULTSMultiple
regression analysis showed that left ventricular output correlated
negatively with haematocrit when the duct was closed (n = 84) and
when it was open (n = 59). The influence of an increase of 10% in
haematocrit absolute value on mean (SD) left ventricular output was
estimated at 
55 (11) ml/kg/min. Mean (SD) red blood cell transport
was 132 (30) ml/kg/min with a mean (SD) intra-individual variability of
20% (8.8%). Red blood cell transport was increased more frequently by
left ventricular output than by haematocrit. Haematocrit and left
ventricular output but not red blood cell transport were dependent on
postnatal age.
CONCLUSIONThese
results suggest that in preterm infants cardiac output adaptation is
effective in attenuating the effects of red blood cell mass variations
on systemic oxygen carrying capacity.
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Key messages
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Keywords: prematurity; haematocrit; cardiac output; polycythaemia
© 2000 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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Gueguen, J, Beuchee, A, Gaillot, T, Betremieux, P, Pladys, P
(2009). Red cell transport and transfusion in preterm infants. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.
94: F229-F229
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