Erythrocyte index and serum ferritin in newborns Índices hematimétricos e ferritina sérica em recém-nascidos

The progressive drop in hemoglobin values during thefirst months of life in term and premature infants has beennamed physiologic anemia of infancy and anemia ofprematurity, respectively. In premature infants, the declineoccurs more rapidly with the lowest values at 4 to 8 weeks asopposed to 10 to 12 weeks in term infants. The recoverystage of physiologic anemia depends on iron stores, but ironadministration to infants does not affect the physiologicaldrop in hemoglobin.