Polycythemia is an abnormal increase in red blood cell mass, defined in neonates as a venous hematocrit ≥ 65%; this increase can lead to hyperviscosity with sludging of blood within vessels and sometimes thrombosis. The main symptoms and signs of neonatal polycythemia are nonspecific and include ruddy complexion, feeding difficulties, lethargy, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, cyanosis, respiratory distress, and seizures. Diagnosis is made clinically and with an arterial or venous hematocrit measurement. Treatment is with partial exchange transfusion.
(Prenatal and perinatal changes in erythropoiesis are discussed in Perinatal Physiology.)
The terms polycythemia and hyperviscosity are often used interchangeably but are not equivalent. Polycythemia is significant only because it increases risk of hyperviscosity syndrome. Hyperviscosity is a clinical syndrome caused by sludging of blood within vessels. Sludging occurs because increased red blood cell mass causes a relative decrease in plasma volume and a relative increase in proteins and platelets.
Incidence of polycythemia is about 3 to 4% (range 0.4 to 12%), and about half of infants with polycythemia have hyperviscosity.
Etiology of Perinatal Polycythemia and Hyperviscosity Syndrome
Dehydration causing relative hemoconcentration and an elevated hematocrit mimics polycythemia, but red blood cell mass is not increased.
Causes of true polycythemia include the following:
Intrauterine hypoxia
Perinatal asphyxia
Placental transfusion (including twin-to-twin transfusion)
Some congenital abnormalities (eg, cyanotic congenital heart disease, renovascular malformations, congenital adrenal hyperplasia)
Certain delivery procedures (eg, excessively delayed cord clamping, holding neonate below the level of the mother before cord clamping, stripping the cord toward the neonate at delivery)
Maternal insulin-dependent diabetes
Down syndrome or other trisomies
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Polycythemia is also more common when the mother resides at a high altitude.
Preterm infants rarely develop hyperviscosity syndrome.
Symptoms and Signs of Perinatal Polycythemia and Hyperviscosity Syndrome
Symptoms and signs of hyperviscosity syndrome are those of heart failure, thrombosis (cerebral and renal vessels), and central nervous system dysfunction, including tachypnea, respiratory distress, cyanosis, plethora, apnea, lethargy, irritability, hypotonia, tremulousness, seizures, and feeding problems. Renal vein thrombosis may also cause renal tubular damage, proteinuria, or both.
Diagnosis of Perinatal Polycythemia and Hyperviscosity Syndrome
Hematocrit
Clinical evaluation
Diagnosis of polycythemia is by arterial or venous (not capillary) hematocrit because capillary samples often overestimate hematocrit. Most published studies of polycythemia use spun hematocrits, which are no longer routinely done and are generally higher than those done on automated counters.
Diagnosis of hyperviscosity syndrome is clinical. Laboratory measure of viscosity is not readily available.
Other laboratory abnormalities may include low blood glucose and calcium ion levels, evidence of red blood cell (RBC) lysis, thrombocytopenia (secondary to consumption with thrombosis), hyperbilirubinemia (caused by turnover of a higher number of RBCs), and reticulocytosis and increased peripheral nucleated RBCs (caused by increased erythropoiesis secondary to fetal hypoxia).
Treatment of Perinatal Polycythemia and Hyperviscosity Syndrome
IV hydration
Sometimes phlebotomy plus saline replacement (partial exchange transfusion)
Asymptomatic infants should be treated with IV hydration (see treatment of dehydration in children).
Symptomatic infants with hematocrit > 65 to 70% should undergo an isovolemic hemodilution (sometimes called partial exchange transfusion, although no blood products are given) to reduce the hematocrit to ≤ 55% and thereby decrease blood viscosity. Partial exchange is done by removing blood in aliquots of 5 mL/kg and immediately replacing it with an equal volume of 0.9% saline. Asymptomatic infants whose hematocrit remains persistently > 70% despite hydration may also benefit from this procedure.
Although many studies show immediate measurable effects of partial exchange, the long-term benefits remain in question. Most studies have failed to document differences in long-term growth or neurodevelopment between children who have received a partial exchange transfusion in the neonatal period and those who have not.
Key Points
Polycythemia in neonates is a venous hematocrit ≥ 65%.
Hyperviscosity is a clinical syndrome involving sludging of blood within vessels and sometimes thrombosis.
Manifestations are varied and can be severe (heart failure, thrombosis [cerebral and renal vessels], central nervous system dysfunction) or mild (tremulousness, lethargy, or hyperbilirubinemia).
Treat with IV hydration and sometimes partial exchange transfusion.
