All issues > Volume 33(11); 1990
- Original Article
- J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(11):1495-1502. Published online November 30, 1990.
- A Clinical Study on Neonatal Polycythemia.
- Gyu Ja Jeong1, Hye Jin Lee1, Yaung Sook Choi1, Son Sang Seo1
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Il Sin Chirstian Hospital, Pusan, Korea
- Received: April 23, 1990; Accepted: July 31, 1990.
- Abstract
- We observed 34 cases of newborn, who were diagnosed as having polycythemia, out of 3,312
newborns who were admitted to our nursery between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1987.
The following results were obtained;
1) The incidence of neonatal polycythemia was 1% and male to female ratio was 1.8:1. The birth
weight of 2000 g to 2500 g was the most common (35.3%).
2) Gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks was 58.8% and that of less than 37 week was 26.5%. In growth
stage, appropriate for gestational age infants were 61.8%, small for gestational age infants and large
for gestational age infants were 32.4% and 5.8% respectively. Although the majority of polycythemic
infants were full-term and appropriately grown, the incidence of small for gestational age of polycyth-
emic infants was significantly higher.
3) The common maternal and neonatal risk factors were preeclampsia (26.5%) and birth hypoxia
(20.6%).
4) The clinical findings included feeding problems (35.3%), respiratory distress (29.4%), plethora (26.
5%), cyanosis (23.5%), lethargy (8.8%), poor body temperature control (5.9%), jitteriness (2.9%),
hypotonia (2.9%). Of the polycythemic infants, 8.8% had no clinical symptoms or signs.
5) Laboratory abnormalities in polycythemic infants were hyperbilirubinemia (52.9%), hypog-
lycemia (26.5%) and thrombocytopenia (5.9%).
6) The associated illnesses were 4 cases each of urinary tract infection and sepsis, 2 cases of
gastroenteritis and 1 case each of pneumonia, pneumomediastinum, wet lung respectively.
Keywords :Neonatal polycythemia