Abstract
We have shown that polycythemia can cause necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn dog. In order to determine the role of blood coagulation in this syndrome the following experiment was performed. Seventeen newborn (3–14 day old) dogs were made polycythemic by a transfusion of 50cc/kg of adult dog packed red blood cells. Group one (9 pups) received 500 units/kg heparine prior to the transfusion and 50 units/kg/hr thereafter. Group 2 (8 pups) received only the transfusion and served as controls. Both groups of pups were fed puppy formula at 8cc/kg/hr beginning 1 hour after the transfusion. Hematocrit and viscosity were similar in the two groups after transfusion: Hct 69 ± 5SD in group 1 and 68 ± 5 in group 2(NS); viscosity at 115/sec, 9.4 ± 2.0 in group 1, 9.2 ± 1.5 in group 2(NS, also NS at other shear rates). Necrotizing enterocolitis was diagnosed at 24 hr after transfusion or at death by autopsy. Necrotizing enterocolitis was seen in 0 of 9 heparinized pups and 4 of 8 control pups (p <.05, Fisher's exact test). An intact coagulation system is critical to the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis in polycythemic puppies.
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Leblanc, M., Ritz, A. & Batson, B. 1437 THE ROLE OF BLOOD COAGULATION IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN POLYCYTHEMIC PUPPIES. Pediatr Res 19, 350 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01461
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01461