HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS CME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My File Cabinet Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Curtis, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Curtis, J. A.

Physiologic Anemia

Editors: Henry M. Adam, MD.

The changes in levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit in the first weeks of life are dramatic. O'Brien and Pearson, in a classic article, demonstrated that these levels drop from an average hemoglobin of 17 g/dL and a hematocrit of 52% in cord blood to a hemoglobin of 11.4 g/dL and a hematocrit of 33% at 75 days of age. The reasons for this drop and the physiologic mechanisms involved in causing it have fascinated a number of researchers.

When considering the results of blood values, the first step is to be sure of the validity of the measurements. Early researchers in this area, such as Oettinger and Mills, noted a wide range of quoted normal values for hemoglobin and hematocrit of the newborn.