PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of blood transfusions before 28^th postnatal day (early blood transfusions) on the iron metabolism indices in prematurely born infants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 102 infants, born before 33^rd gestational week were investigated. They are divided in two groups: group 0 - without, and group 1 - with early blood transfusions. The serum level of ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptors, iron, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation were examined. RESULTS: Group 1: The start ferritin levels and iron levels in 30^th, 33^rd and 36^th week postconceptual age (PCA) were higher; the levels of soluble transferrin receptors throughout monitored period and total iron binding capacity in 33^rd and 36^th week PCA were lower. Group 0: The mean transferrin levels rose sharply after 33^rd week PCA and the differences were significant in 36^th and 39^th week PCA. Examining saturation of transferrin, the iron overload samples predominate in 30^th, 33^rd and 36^th week PCA and are three times often at the term according to the non-transfused infants. CONCLUSION: The early blood transfusions lead to serious disorders of iron status and high risk of iron overload at term in infants, born before 33^rd gestational week.

Keyword: blood transfusion, iron metabolism, iron overload, prematurity

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