Abstract

Background: Duringtransition from fetal to neonatal life is related with major changes in hemogram due to homeostatic control. There are very extensive ranges of hemogram levels that seem to be abnormally high or low in healthy term neonate at birth and during first week of life. Those were actually normal for that neonatal period depending upon gestational and post-natal age. Method: Hemogram was studied in 100 normal term neonates born in our Tertiary centre during June 2023 to Dec 2023. Results: The ranges of various hemogram indices at birth, 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days are as follows: Hemoglobin 18.1±2.62 gm%, 17.2±2.62 gm%, 16.6±2.37 gm% and 16.1±2.28 gm% respectively. Hematocrit 52.3±6.2%, 50.1±6.2%, 49.4±6.3% and 47.3±6.1% respectively. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 100.3±7.20 fl, 98.5±7.2fl, 98.9±7.3fl and 99.2±7.3 respectively. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) 34.1±2.69pg, 33.4±2.71pg, 33.6±2.73pg and 33.8±2.75pg respectively. MCH concentration (MCHC) 34.8±1.61 g/dl, 33.8±1.57 g/dl, 34.1±1.56 g/dl and 34.6±1.61 g/dl respectively. Conclusions: Hemoglobin levels naturally decrease in healthy term neonates during early life. Additionally, there is significant variation in red blood cell parameters among healthy term neonates. Notably, normal hemogram values for neonates differ from other age groups and change with postnatal and gestational age. To accurately interpret neonatal hemograms, reference ranges derived from large datasets spanning various gestational and postnatal ages should be consulted, such as those provided here for healthy term neonates.

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