Polycythemia - newborn

Polycythemia can occur when there are too many red blood cells (RBCs) in an infant's blood.

Causes

The percentage of RBCs in the infant's blood is called the "hematocrit." When this is greater than 65%, polycythemia is present.

Polycythemia can result from conditions that develop before birth. These may include:

• Delay in clamping the umbilical cord
• Diabetes in the baby's birth mother
• Inherited diseases and genetic problems
• Too little oxygen reaching body tissues (hypoxia), such as from congenital heart or vascular abnormalities
• Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (occurs when blood moves from one twin to the other)

  Twin-twin transfusion syndrome

  Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare condition that occurs only in identical twins while they are in the womb.

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The extra RBCs can slow or block the flow of blood in the smallest blood vessels. This is called hyperviscosity. This may lead to tissue death from lack of oxygen. This blocked blood flow can affect all organs, including the kidneys, lungs, and brain.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Extreme sleepiness
• Feeding problems
• Seizures

Exams and Tests

There may be signs of breathing problems, kidney failure, low blood sugar, or newborn jaundice.

Newborn jaundice

Newborn jaundice occurs when a baby has a high level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replac...

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If the baby has symptoms of hyperviscosity, a blood test to count the number of RBCs will be done. This test is called a hematocrit.

Hematocrit

Hematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person's blood is made up of red blood cells as opposed to plasma. This measurement depends o...

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Other tests may include:

• Blood gases to check oxygen level in the blood
• Blood sugar (glucose) to check for low blood sugar
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a substance that forms when protein breaks down
• Creatinine

  Creatinine

  The creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...

  

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• Urinalysis
• Bilirubin

Treatment

The baby will be monitored for complications of hyperviscosity. Fluids may be given through the vein. A partial volume exchange transfusion is sometimes still done in some cases. However, there is little evidence that this is effective. It is most important to treat the underlying cause of the polycythemia.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outlook is good for infants with mild hyperviscosity. Good results are also possible in infants who receive treatment for severe hyperviscosity. The outlook will depend largely on the reason for the condition.

Some children may have mild developmental changes. Parents should contact their health care provider if they think their child shows signs of delayed development.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

• Death of intestinal tissue (necrotizing enterocolitis)
• Decreased fine motor control
• Kidney failure
• Seizures
• Strokes