Affiliations: Department of Neonatology, Holy Cross Hospital, Silver
Spring, MD, USA | Department of Neonatology, Children's National Medical
Center / The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC,
USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: K. Rais-Bahrami, MD, Division of
Neonatology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
Tel.: +1 202 476 4764; Fax: +1 202 476 3459; E-mail: kraisbah@cnmc.org
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate iron storage indices in neonates undergoing
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Study design: Thirty neonatal ECMO patients were evaluated by
measuring pre- and post- ECMO iron, ferritin, transferrin, and total iron
binding capacity (TIBC). Each patient's post-ECMO values were compared to
his/her pre-ECMO measurements. Multivariate regression analysis was used to
evaluate factors affecting serum iron and iron storage indices. Results: All measured iron storage indices were increased
during ECMO in the majority of our patients. The increase in serum iron and
TIBC was dependent on the amount of blood transfused during ECMO (p = 0.038
for iron; p = 0.026 for TIBC). Change in ferritin level was dependent on both
the duration of ECMO (p = 0.012) and the amount of blood transfused (p = 0.01). Conclusion: We observed increases in iron indices measured in
neonates on ECMO. We recommend individualized attention to the iron storage
indices in neonatal ECMO patients.
