Journal article
Hematocrit correlates well with circulating red blood cell volume in very low birth weight infants
Pediatric research, Vol.50(4), pp.525-531
2001
DOI: 10.1203/00006450-200110000-00017
PMID: 11568298
Abstract
Although circulating red blood cell (RBC) volume is a better measure of total body oxygen delivering capacity than hematocrit (HCT), circulating RBC volume is more difficult to measure. Thus, the HCT is often used in RBC transfusion decisions. However, several previous studies of low birth weight infants have reported that the correlation between HCT and circulating RBC volume is poor. Using a robust nonradioactive method based on in vivo dilution of biotinylated RBC enumerated by flow cytometry, the present study reexamined the correlation between HCT and circulating RBC volume in very low birth weight infants. Venous and capillary HCT levels were compared with circulating RBC volume measured using the biotin method. Twenty-six stable very low birth weight infants with birth weights less than 1300 g were studied on 43 occasions between 7 and 79 d of life. Venous HCT values correlated highly with circulating RBC volume (r = 0.907; p < 0.0001). However, the mean 95% confidence limits for prediction of circulating RBC volume from venous HCT (the average error of prediction) was +/-13.4 mL/kg. The correlation between HCT and circulating RBC volume is strong in older stable very low birth weight infants. However, clinically important uncertainty exists in estimating circulating RBC volume and the associated RBC transfusion needs of an individual infant based on venous HCT. Because direct measurement of circulating RBC volume is not yet practical, the HCT (or the blood Hb concentration) remains the best available indirect indicator.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Hematocrit correlates well with circulating red blood cell volume in very low birth weight infants
- Creators
- Donald M MOCK - Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United StatesEdward F BELL - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United StatesGary L LANKFORD - Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United StatesJohn A WIDNESS - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Pediatric research, Vol.50(4), pp.525-531
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1203/00006450-200110000-00017
- PMID
- 11568298
- ISSN
- 0031-3998
- eISSN
- 1530-0447
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2001
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Neonatology
- Record Identifier
- 9984093475702771
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