Polyglobulia

It is defined as the increase in red blood cells in the newborn's blood. By increasing the concentration of red blood cells, the viscosity of the blood increases. It is more common in premature and post-term babies (newborns over 42 weeks pregnant).

It is also known as polycythemia.

Causes

• Delay in cord clamping: this situation can lead to an excessive transfusion of blood from the mother to the newborn

• Placement of the newborn, before cutting the umbilical cord, in a lower position than that of the mother

• Twin to twin transfusion: the one who gives the blood remains anemic and weighs less, and the one who receives it has polyglobulia and a greater weight.

• Children of a diabetic mother

• Neonates with high weight (macrosomas) or low weight for gestational age

• Newborns over 42 weeks pregnant

• Maternal hypertension during pregnancy

• Drugs

• Baby dehydration

• Maternal smoking

• Hormonal diseases in the newborn: thyroid and adrenal disorders

• Down's Syndrome

• Pregnancies that have developed in geographic areas with high altitude

Symptoms

Most children with polycythemia are asymptomatic. The main cause of the symptoms are produced by the increase in the viscosity of the blood:

• Alterations of the nervous system: they manifest as problems in eating, drowsiness, hypotonia, apnea, thrombi or seizures

• Cardiorespiratory problems: rapid breathing (tachypnea), cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin), heart murmurs, heart failure and cardiomegaly (abnormally enlarged heart)

• Kidney disorders

• Jaundice

• Hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia

• Thrombosis

• Low platelets

Treatment

When polyglobulia produces symptoms, an exchange transfusion should be performed on the newborn; This technique consists of drawing blood from the baby and replacing it with donor blood.

In this way, the number of red blood cells is normalized and the blood is no longer so thick or viscous.