Erythrocyte parameters were measured on routine blood analysis for every maternal-infant pair. A peripheral arterial blood sample was collected from each infant within the first twelve hours after birth and erythrocyte parameters [hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes, MCHr, MCV, percent (%) hypochromia, ferritin] were analyzed with an automated hematology analyzer (Alinity Hq, Abbott, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA). The percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (%hypochromia) can be derived from the hemoglobin concentration distribution curve and is usually defined as the percentage of red blood cells with a cellular hemoglobin content below 28.0 g/dL. In older children and adults, values above 1% are highly suggestive of iron deficiency (3). C-reactive protein, with a cut-off value of 1.0 mg/dL, was evaluated simultaneously as ferritin to exclude underlying infection. A venous blood sample for evaluating the complete set of the same erythrocyte parameters was also collected for each infant’s mother within the first twelve hours after birth.
Neonatal anemia during the first 24 hours of age was defined by hemoglobin lower than 13 g/dL based on standard criteria (14 (link)). Ferritin values below 75 μg/L were considered “low” and above 250 μg/L “high” (15 (link)); MCHr values below 29 pg were considered “low” and above 38 pg “high” (11 (link)).
Neonatal anemia during the first 24 hours of age was defined by hemoglobin lower than 13 g/dL based on standard criteria (14 (link)). Ferritin values below 75 μg/L were considered “low” and above 250 μg/L “high” (15 (link)); MCHr values below 29 pg were considered “low” and above 38 pg “high” (11 (link)).
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