Iron deficiency during early infancy is associated with irreversible long-term neurodevelopmental impairments and the growth and functioning of organ systems. In contrast, iron overload can also cause organ injury especially in the liver and brain. Mo...
Iron deficiency during early infancy is associated with irreversible long-term neurodevelopmental impairments and the growth and functioning of organ systems. In contrast, iron overload can also cause organ injury especially in the liver and brain. Most very-low-birth-weight infants need erythrocyte transfusions during their hospitalization, and this leads to excessive iron accumulation without supplementation. We evaluated the iron status of very-low-birth-weight infants during their hospitalization to assess appropriate supplementation of iron. This prospective study enrolled 45 very-low-birth-weight infants admitted to Kyungpook national university hospital between January 2012 and June 2013. We measured the level of hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum ferritin at birth and weekly as a value of iron status. Serum ferritin concentration at birth was not significantly associated with gestational age, maternal hemoglobin, maternal serum ferritin levels. Maternal ferritin concentration had a negative relation with neonatal levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit. The mean levels of serum ferritin were near or over the value of 95th percentile (267 ng/mL) since the very first week of age. There were no significant differences in serum ferritin concentration during hospitalization between infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The total volume of erythrocyte transfusion in infants with morbidity was more than those without morbidity. The total volume of erythrocyte transfusion was correlated with the duration of positive-pressure ventilation and serum ferritin concentrations at discharge. Very-low-birth-weight infants during hospitalization may have excessive iron stores. Individual differences in multiple factors such as volume of transfusion and iron metabolism can result in various iron status. In very-low-birth-weight infants, individual evaluation of iron status may be needed before and during enteral iron supplementation.