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文本框: HEPATIC IRON AND MULTIPLE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS IN INFANTS <1500G Ng PC1, Lam CWK2, Lee CH1, To KF3, Fok TF1, Chan IHS2 1Department of Paediatrics, 2Department of Chemical Pathology and 3Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong Objective: To investigate the effect of multiple blood transfusions on hepatic iron storage in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Seventeen VLBW infants underwent postmortem examination were studied. Liver iron concentration was quantitatively determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and semi-quantitatively assessed by histochemical liver iron grading. The clinical characteristics and the iron results were compared between infants receiving <100 ml of blood transfusion (Group A, n=9) and those receiving ³100 ml (Group B, n=8). Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relation between the volume of blood transfused and serum/liver iron concentrations. Results: Infants in Group B have significantly higher serum iron (p<0.01), serum ferritin (p<0.01) and liver iron concentration (p<0.01) than Group A infants. The total and the net volume of blood transfusion were significantly associated with liver iron concentration (p<0.001, r=0.86; p<0.001, r=0.71, respectively), semi-quantitative histochemical liver iron grading (p<0.001, r=0.80; p<0.005, r=0.71, respectively) and serum ferritin (p<0.001, r=0.84; p<0.01, r=0.69, respectively). In addition, both liver iron concentration and liver iron grading were found to be significantly associated with serum ferritin (p<0.001, r=0.76; p<0.005, r=0.68, respectively). Conclusions: This study showed a significant relation between the volume of blood transfusion and the liver iron concentration in VLBW infants. Caregivers should be aware of this potential harmful effect before prescribing blood or routine iron supplement to preterm infants.