##submission.abstract##
Infants and toddlers are vulnerable to the effects of anemia due to rapid growth
and development of brain and rest of the body from birth to age three. Preterm
and/or low birth weight infants are more vulnerable. Iron-deficiency anemia
affects neurological development due to reduced myelination of the spinal cord,
as well as a change in myelin composition. To correlate complete serum iron, TIBC and serum ferritin of new born of ?32weeks(wks),
33-36weeks, 37-40weeks and >40weeks gestation age from umbilical cord blood
for early detection of anemia and perinatal managem eonf t complications.
Ninty six new born cord blood was collected of gestation age ? 32wks(10),
33-36wks(12), 37-40wks(60), >40wks(14). Comparison of complete blood count
parameters with respect to gestation age was done in a tertiary care hospital,
Kolkata by ANOVA(one way analysis of variance) test with Graphpad Instat 3
software.
We found significant correlation coefficient for hematocrit(p=0.024), mean
corpuscular volume(p=.0049), platelet count(p=0.0097), red cell distribution
width(p=0.033),serum iron(p=0.0034),serumTIBC(p=0.0482). Anemia is often
first shown by complete blood count (CBC). Sufficiently low hemoglobin
(HGB) by definition makes the diagnosis of anemia, and low hematocrit
(HCT) value is also characteristic of anemia. Biochemical tests usually
done are serum ferritin, serum iron level, total iron binding capacity (TIBC).
Currently, there is no clear recommendation of iron supplementation to the
new born with decreased iron content other than exclusive breast feeding
which is compulsory to all new born. As it is an easy, early and non-invasive
procedure of estimation of fetal iron deficiency, it may be
recommended in health care programmes for early detection and treatment of
iron deficiency before the development of actual anemia.