HYPOXIA AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN INFANTS WITH CONGENITAL-MALFORMATIONS

In a longitudinal study the influence of hypoxia on hematological parameters and percentage of low density red blood cells (%1dc), determined by the erythrocyte density test, and the behaviour for estimation of hypoxia by these parameters and arterial oxygen tension (paO(2)) were studied in infants with cyanotic (n = 40) and acyanotic (n = 42) cardiac malformations. In contrast to healthy and acyanotic infants, characteristic differences of hematological parameters were found in cyanotic infants because of their elevated erythropoietic activity. Relatively high EDT values occurred in infants with paO(2) < 31 mmHg (< 4.1 kPa). In infants with cyanotic cardiac malformations and a paO(2) level < 31 mmHg, significant differences in EDT values between deceased individuals and survivors were found. Determination of percentage of low density red blood cells can be used as prognostic parameter for follow-up and for estimation of hypoxia.