Journal Article

Early versus delayed cord clamping in small for gestational age infants and iron stores at 3 months of age - a randomized controlled trial

Garg, Pankaj, Kler, Neelam, Gujral, Kanwal, Chopra, Abhishek, Thakur, Anup

2018

Overview

Background Delayed cord clamping is the standard of care in infants not requiring resuscitation; however effects of cord clamping strategies have not been evaluated systematically in small for gestational age (SGA) infants. The primary objective was to compare effects of delayed cord clamping (DCC) and early cord clamping (ECC) on serum ferritin at 3 months in SGA infants born at ≥35 weeks. The secondary objectives were to compare hematological parameters, clinical outcomes in neonatal period and growth at 3 months of age. Methods All eligible infants with fetal growth restriction were randomized to two groups, DCC at 60 s or ECC group in which the cord was clamped immediately after birth. Results Total of 142 infants underwent randomization and subsequently 113 infants underwent definite inclusion. At 3 months, the median (IQR) serum ferritin levels were higher in DCC group, compared to ECC; 86 ng/ml (43.35–134.75) vs 50.5 ng/ml (29.5–83.5), p  = 0.01. Fewer infants had iron deficiency in DCC group compared to ECC group; 9 (23.6%) vs 21 (47.7%), p  = 0.03 [NNT being 4; 95% CI (2–25)].The proportion of infants with polycythemia was significantly higher in DCC group; 23 (41.81) % vs 12 (20.6%), p = 0.01. There was no difference in proportion of infants with symptomatic polycythemia or those who underwent partial exchange transfusions. Clinical outcomes and mortality were similar. Conclusions DCC improves iron stores in SGA infants ≥35 weeks at 3 months of age without increasing the risk of symptomatic polycythemia, need for partial exchange transfusions or morbidities associated with polycythemia. Trial registration Our trial was retrospectively registered on 29th May 2015 through Clinical trials registry India. Registration number: CTRI 2015/05/005828 .

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Age / Analysis / Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - etiology / Babies / Clinical outcomes / Clinical trials / Constriction / Delayed cord clamping / Delivery, Obstetric - methods / Early cord clamping / Evidence-based medicine / Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood / Female / Ferritin / Ferritins - blood / Fetuses / Gestational age / Health aspects / Hematocrit / Hemoglobin / Hemoglobins - metabolism / Humans / Hyperbilirubinemia - etiology / India / Infant, Newborn / Infant, Small for Gestational Age - metabolism / Infants (Newborn) / Internal Medicine / Iron / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Neonatology / Pediatrics / Polycythemia / Polycythemia - etiology / Polycythemia - therapy / Registration / Research Article / Risk Factors / Small for gestational age / Systematic review / Time Factors / Ultrasonic imaging / Umbilical Cord