Abstract
The metabolism of erythrocytes has been explored in premature newborns and in term and premature newborn infants who presented non immune haemolytic anaemia. Results were compared to those of normal term newborn infants.
Activities of erythrocytes hexokinase, 6-Phospho gluconate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, level of reduced glutathione and plasmatic level of vitamin E were similar in all groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was the same in icteric term newborns and normal term newborns.
The level of foetal haemoglobin and the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase were significatively increased in premature newborn infants whether icteric or not. Pyrimidine nucleotidase (PN) activity was low in icteric premature infants either when related to reticulocytosis or in absolute value.
Results suggest that decreased activity of PN could be involved in the haemolytic process observed in premature newborn infants.
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Vertongen, F., Heyder-Bruckner, C., Edelman, R. et al. 54 ERYTHROCYTE METABOLISM IN ICTERIC TERM AND PREMATURE NEWBORN INFANTS. Pediatr Res 13, 957 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00070
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00070
