All issues > Volume 32(11); 1989

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1989;32(11):1469-1473. Published online November 30, 1989.

The Effect of Oral Vitamin E on Hemolytic Anemia of the Premature Infants.

Hwa Kyoung Oh¹, Kwang Sik Yoo¹, Yong Sil Chi¹, Myung Jin Kim¹, Mi Na Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Cheil General Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Received: April 18, 1989;  Accepted: June 29, 1989.

Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of vitamin E on hemolytic anemia of premature infants. Sixty infants delivered in Cheil Hospital from March 1987 to December 1988 with birth weight below 2500 gm or gestational age below 37 weeks were studied. Thirty infants received oral vitamin E 25 IU/day until their birth weight doubled. Thirty infants served as control. The results were as follower: 1) No significant difference was present in birth weight or gestational age between study and control group. 2) No significant correlation was found between gestational age, birth weight and plasma vitamin E levels. 3) The plasma level of vitamin E significantly increased 1 week after administration of vitamin E. 4) Infants who received vitamin E demonstrated a significant increase in hemoglobin level (9.2 ±0. 13 gm%) compared to the control (7.8±0.52 gm%) at 10 wks of life. 5) Infants of both groups showed significant difference in reticulocyte count, 1.72±0.09% in vitamin E group and 2.97 ±1.25% in the control group. In premature infants the routine administration of vitamin E is recommended to prevent hemolytic anemia developing ant 6 to 10 wks after birth.

Keywords :Vitamin E, Hemolytic anemia