Hematocrit in relation to Apgar scores in SGA infants |
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Authors: | T J De Grauw H Budde J F Samsom M B Hopkins |
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Institution: | Department of Pediatrics, Free University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
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Abstract: | SGA infants have an increased incidence of low Apgar scores. At the same time they frequently have a high hematocrit. Since both affect outcome, it is important to know if a relationship exists between these two factors. In a study of 139 SGA newborns many had low Apgar scores at one minute: 63% of the preterms and 29% of the fullterms. Frequent abnormal hematological findings included high hematocrit. We found a positive correlation between hematocrit and the Apgar score at one minute of life that was statistically significant. The babies with a high hematocrit had significantly more often good Apgar scores. The correlation was present in preterm babies (r = 0.55) as well as in fullterms (r = 0.32). It is concluded that a high hematocrit probably protects the SGA newborn against acute perinatal asphyxia. It is possible that both low Apgar scores and "normal" hematocrit are signs of a chronically impaired SGA fetus. |
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