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ESTIMATED IRON BALANCE AND PLASMA FERRITIN LEVELS IN VLBW INFANTS

25 VLBW infants (BW 1.3 kg) had plasma ferritin levels (PF), Hgb, Hct, and MCV measured when they reached about 2 kg in weight. 10 of them had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). None of these infants were supplemented with medicinal iron or received iron-fortified formula. Estimated iron balance (EIB) was determined by calculating iron intake from milk ingested, whole blood and packed red cells, and losses from blood drawing. Plasma ferritin was measured by RIA. Their gestational age was 29 ±2.4 wks. Results are expressed in the table as × ± SD.Plasma ferritin levels ranged from 34 to 430 ug/l. There was no significant correlation between oral intake of iron and plasma ferritin levels. However, there was correlation between iron balance and plasma ferritin levels (y=43+1.43×, r:0.58, SEE:18.3, p 0.01). Infants with BPD had higher plasma ferritin levels than those without BPD, which may reflect the more frequent transfusions. These data suggest that in VLBW infants, iron supplementation is not indicated prior to their reaching 2 kg in weight.