Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

In order to evaluate the incidence and frequency of clinical and laboratory findings in newborns with polycythemia in Tehran a retrospective study was carried out in newborns who were admitted in newborn service in Ali Asghar Children Hospital between years 1988-1995 . During this period 3086 newborns were admitted and 32 patients had central hematocrit above 65% (1.03%) . Of the polycythemic infants, 84.4 % were sympthomatic. Frequent signs and symptoms included: cyanosis 28. 1 %, plethora 28.1%, jitteriness 25%, poor feeding 25%, lethargia 21.8%, respiratory distress 12.5% and hypotonia 12.5% . Other findings included hypoglycemia 43.7% and hyperbilirubinemia 25% . Of the polycythemic infants, 15.6% had no clinical or laboratory abnormality. It was noted that SGA & LGA newborns are more prone to polycythemia. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment the prognosis is excellent.