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==Overview==
==Overview==
[[Anemia of prematurity]] is multifactorial in origin. [[Phlebotomy]] is the major contributing factor. Other important factors are decreased [[erythropoietin]] production, increased [[erythropoietin]] [[metabolism]], deficient [[iron]] stores, and decreased [[RBC]] lifespan.


==Pathophysiology==
==Pathophysiology==
The total volume of blood in premature infants is approximately 100ml/kg of body weight--approximately 5 ounces for a 1.5kg infant.  Blood sampling done for laboratory testing in the first days of life can easily remove enough blood to produce anemiaAs anemia develops, the amount of oxygen delivered by the hemoglobin in the blood to the body organs declines. Normally this stimulates increased production of[[erythropoietin]] (EPO), but this response is diminished in premature infants. While the reason for this decreased response is not fully understood, it is theorized that there is a genetically timed switch from [[liver|hepatic]] production of EPO, which occurs in-utero, to[[kidney|renal]] production.  Since hepatic production is stimulated by lower levels of oxygen delivery (reflecting the lower levels present in the fetus) and since the red blood cells are carrying higher amounts of oxygen after birth, the level of red blood cells itself must drop significantly before EPO production will begin in premature infants who have not yet switched from hepatic to renal EPO productionThis level may be as low as a [[hemoglobin]] of 6.5g/dL, corresponding to an [[hematocrit]] of approximately 19.
The [[pathogenesis]] of [[anemia of prematurity]] is multifactorial. [[Anemia of prematurity]] is the result of a combination of decreased [[erythropoietin]] production, increased [[erythropoietin]] [[metabolism]], deficient [[iron]] stores, decreased [[RBC]] lifespan, and blood loss during [[phlebotomy]].<ref name="pmid6502312">{{cite journal| author=Stockman JA, Graeber JE, Clark DA, McClellan K, Garcia JF, Kavey RE| title=Anemia of prematurity: determinants of the erythropoietin response. | journal=J Pediatr | year= 1984 | volume= 105 | issue= 5 | pages= 786-92 | pmid=6502312 | doi=10.1016/s0022-3476(84)80308-x | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=6502312 }} </ref><ref name="pmid20817366">{{cite journal| author=Strauss RG| title=Anaemia of prematurity: pathophysiology and treatment. | journal=Blood Rev | year= 2010 | volume= 24 | issue= 6 | pages= 221-5 | pmid=20817366 | doi=10.1016/j.blre.2010.08.001 | pmc=2981681 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=20817366 }} </ref>
===Physiological anemia in newborns===
Normally, all the [[newborns]] experience a fall in the [[haemoglobin]] concentration during the first few weeks of life. Healthy, [[fullterm]] [[infants]] usually develop [[anemia]] around 10-12 weeks of life after birth. [[Hemoglobin]] concentration never falls below 10 g/dl in healthy infants. Physiological anemia is well tolerated by and does not require any therapy.<ref name="pmid20817366">{{cite journal| author=Strauss RG| title=Anaemia of prematurity: pathophysiology and treatment. | journal=Blood Rev | year= 2010 | volume= 24 | issue= 6 | pages= 221-5 | pmid=20817366 | doi=10.1016/j.blre.2010.08.001 | pmc=2981681 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=20817366  }} </ref>
 
*After birth, an [[embryo]] transitions from a [[hypoxic]] state in-utero to an [[infant]] in a relatively hyperoxic environment
*This transition leads to an increase in [[blood oxygen]] and [[tissue oxygen]] concentration in [[newborns]]
*Increased [[oxygen]] concentration inhibits [[erythropoietin]] production and eventually stops [[erythropoiesis]]
*Due to the rapid growth and disproportionate RBC production, [[hemoglobin]] levels fall gradually in infants
*The drop in [[hemoglobin]] concentration continues until the [[tissue hypoxia]] develops which usually takes around 6-12weeks after birth
*[[Tissue hypoxia]] activates the [[oxygen sensors]] present in the [[kidney]] and [[liver]] to stimulate the [[erythropoietin]] and [[red blood cells]] production
*[[Fullterm newborns]] have enough iron stores for [[erythropoiesis]] until 20 weeks of life
*Infants have a shorter [[RBC]] lifespan and increased [[e
rythropoietin]] [[metabolism]] when compared to adults<ref name="pmid8847295">{{cite journal| author=Widness JA, Veng-Pedersen P, Peters C, Pereira LM, Schmidt RL, Lowe LS| title=Erythropoietin pharmacokinetics in premature infants: developmental, nonlinearity, and treatment effects. | journal=J Appl Physiol (1985) | year= 1996 | volume= 80 | issue= 1 | pages= 140-8 | pmid=8847295 | doi=10.1152/jappl.1996.80.1.140 | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=8847295  }} </ref>
 
===Pathological Anemia of Prematurity===
In [[preterm]] [[infants]], multiple [[physiological factors]] exaggerate and combine to result in [[pathological anemia]]. [[Hemoglobin]] levels drop rapidly to less than 10 g/dl around 4-6 weeks after birth. [[Infants]] with 1-1.5 kg of [[birthweight]] have [[hemoglobin]] levels around 8 g/dl, whereas [[infants]] with [[birthweight]] less than 1 kg have [[hemoglobin]] levels around 7 g/dl or less. The profound decrease in [[hemoglobin]] levels in [[premature infants]] produce abnormal [[signs]] and [[symptoms]] and require a [[blood transfusion]]. <ref name="pmid20817366">{{cite journal| author=Strauss RG| title=Anaemia of prematurity: pathophysiology and treatment. | journal=Blood Rev | year= 2010 | volume= 24 | issue= 6 | pages= 221-5 | pmid=20817366 | doi=10.1016/j.blre.2010.08.001 | pmc=2981681 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=20817366  }} </ref>
 
*[[Iron transport]] from [[mother]] to [[infants]] and a greater proportion of [[fetal erythropoiesis]] occur during the [[third trimester]]. So, [[infants]] born [[prematurely]] have deficient [[iron stores]] required for the [[red blood cells production]]
*[[Blood loss]] during [[phlebotomy]] is the major contributor of [[anemia of prematurity]]
*Majority of [[preterm infants]] are [[sick]] and [[critically ill]] that require frequent [[blood sampling]] for various [[laboratory investigations]] needed for their [[clinical monitoring]]. The average amount of [[blood loss]] during [[sampling]] ranges from 0.8-3.1 ml/kg/day, a significant amount that requires replacement
*[[Preterm infants]] are at increased risk of [[nosocomial infections]] that lead to [[oxidative hemolysis]]
*In [[premature infants]], [[liver]] is the major site of [[erythropoiesis]]. [[Liver]] [[EPO]] is less sensitive to anemia and tissue hypoxia<ref name="pmid9787158">{{cite journal| author=Dame C, Fahnenstich H, Freitag P, Hofmann D, Abdul-Nour T, Bartmann P | display-authors=etal| title=Erythropoietin mRNA expression in human fetal and neonatal tissue. | journal=Blood | year= 1998 | volume= 92 | issue= 9 | pages= 3218-25 | pmid=9787158 | doi= | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=9787158 }} </ref>
*[[Preterm infants]] have deficient [[Vitamin E]], [[Vitamin B12]], [[Folic acid]] stores required for [[red blood cells]] production
*A combination of [[blood loss]], decreased [[erythropoietin]] production, deficient [[iron stores]], increased [[erythropoietin]] [[metabolism]], shortened [[RBC]] lifespan contribute to the development of [[anemia of prematurity]]
 
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Anemia of prematurity is multifactorial in origin. Phlebotomy is the major contributing factor. Other important factors are decreased erythropoietin production, increased erythropoietin metabolism, deficient iron stores, and decreased RBC lifespan.

Pathophysiology

The pathogenesis of anemia of prematurity is multifactorial. Anemia of prematurity is the result of a combination of decreased erythropoietin production, increased erythropoietin metabolism, deficient iron stores, decreased RBC lifespan, and blood loss during phlebotomy.[1][2]

Physiological anemia in newborns

Normally, all the newborns experience a fall in the haemoglobin concentration during the first few weeks of life. Healthy, fullterm infants usually develop anemia around 10-12 weeks of life after birth. Hemoglobin concentration never falls below 10 g/dl in healthy infants. Physiological anemia is well tolerated by and does not require any therapy.[2]

rythropoietin]] metabolism when compared to adults[3]

Pathological Anemia of Prematurity

In preterm infants, multiple physiological factors exaggerate and combine to result in pathological anemia. Hemoglobin levels drop rapidly to less than 10 g/dl around 4-6 weeks after birth. Infants with 1-1.5 kg of birthweight have hemoglobin levels around 8 g/dl, whereas infants with birthweight less than 1 kg have hemoglobin levels around 7 g/dl or less. The profound decrease in hemoglobin levels in premature infants produce abnormal signs and symptoms and require a blood transfusion. [2]

References

  1. Stockman JA, Graeber JE, Clark DA, McClellan K, Garcia JF, Kavey RE (1984). "Anemia of prematurity: determinants of the erythropoietin response". J Pediatr. 105 (5): 786–92. doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(84)80308-x. PMID 6502312.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Strauss RG (2010). "Anaemia of prematurity: pathophysiology and treatment". Blood Rev. 24 (6): 221–5. doi:10.1016/j.blre.2010.08.001. PMC 2981681. PMID 20817366.
  3. Widness JA, Veng-Pedersen P, Peters C, Pereira LM, Schmidt RL, Lowe LS (1996). "Erythropoietin pharmacokinetics in premature infants: developmental, nonlinearity, and treatment effects". J Appl Physiol (1985). 80 (1): 140–8. doi:10.1152/jappl.1996.80.1.140. PMID 8847295.
  4. Dame C, Fahnenstich H, Freitag P, Hofmann D, Abdul-Nour T, Bartmann P; et al. (1998). "Erythropoietin mRNA expression in human fetal and neonatal tissue". Blood. 92 (9): 3218–25. PMID 9787158.

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