Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland | UCD School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland | Department of Radiology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland | Department of Pediatric Hematology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland | Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Note: [] Corresponding author: Eleanor J. Molloy, Department of Pediatrics, National Maternity Hospital, Holles St., Dublin 2, Ireand. Tel.: +353 1 4096100; E-mail: elesean@hotmail.com
Abstract: Reference ranges for coagulation screens in preterm infants were formulated in the 1980s. Preterm infants are at risk of hypocoagulable states due to hepatic immaturity, hypoxia, respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. Coagulation profiles of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants were assessed and adverse outcomes recorded. A total of 32 VLBW infants had coagulation studies in the first week of life. Fibrinogen was significantly decreased on the third day of life in infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) compared with those with no or mild IVH. Further research on VLBW coagulation profiles may become easier with the development of point-of-care technology.
Keywords: Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), platelets, coagulation
