Neonatal Polycythemia and Hypoglycemia in Newborns: Are They Related?

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to test whether neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) is more common in infants with neonatal polycythemia (NP).

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective study based on universal screening of NH and targeted screening for NP. Polycythemia was defined as venous hematocrit ≥ 65%. NH was defined as whole blood glucose (BG) concentration < 48 mg/dL (measured using a "point-of-care" analyzer [Accu-Chek]).

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 119 consecutive term polycythemic infants and 117 controls. There were no significant differences between the two groups in perinatal characteristics, minimal BG concentration, and rate of hypoglycemia. In a stepwise backward multiple regression where NH was the dependent variable, only maternal gestational diabetes mellitus ( = 0.032) and toxemia ( = 0.001) remained significant, whereas NP was insignificant.

CONCLUSION

NH is not more common in NP infants than in non-NP infants. We suggest that the occurrence of NH in infants with NP might be related to the common risk factors of the two morbidities.