DETERMINANTS OF HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION IN CYANOTIC HEART-DISEASE

Children with cyanotic heart disease were studied to determine the effects of chronic hypoxemia, iron stores, and age on hemoglobin. Red cell mean corpuscular volume >90th percentile was found in 72% of children and hemoglobin was higher in this group than in patients with a mean corpuscular volume in the 10-90th percentile or <10th percentile (p<0.05). In children presumed iron sufficient and with oxygen saturation >75%, multiple regression analysis showed that age (p<0.0001) and oxygen saturation (p<0.0001) were associated with hemoglobin. Significant correlations between hemoglobin and oxygen saturation were present for children <2 years (r=-0.50) and 2-11 years (-0.48), but not for patients>11 years. We conclude that variables other than oxygen saturation, including age and iron stores, are important in determining hemoglobin concentration in cyanotic heart disease. © 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.